Arsène Wenger chose to play down his disappointment after Manchester United had moved five points clear at the top of the table but the Arsenal manager's magnificent obsession with the aesthetic aspects of football has left him with a blind spot when it comes to the basics of defending, and the lack of a reliable goalkeeper and effective centre-halves will almost certainly leave an otherwise admirable team empty-handed for the sixth season in succession.
Wojciech Szczesny's blunder in goal condemned them to defeat by Birmingham in the Carling Cup final and now Manuel Almunia's senseless charge out of his penalty area at The Hawthorns cost two points which could prove decisive as the title race enters its final furlong. Wenger would neither confirm or deny it but Jens Lehmann, persuaded out of retirement at 41, is in line for early promotion from the bench when the premier league resumes after the international break.
It should never have come to this. For years now pundits and punters alike have been saying Arsenal need a top keeper and rock solid central defenders in the Adams-Bould-Keown tradition but Wenger, perversely, will not have it and continues to make do with inadequates, his persistence smacking of obstinacy.
Still, better late than never.
Arsenal have an array of attacking talent in Cesc Fabregas, Robin Van Persie, Samir Nasri and so on. If Jens Lehman could repeat the heroics of his prime, Arsenal are in with a real shout of winning the championship come May.
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