Has Tottenham’s comeback at the Emirates last week really knocked the wind out of Arsenal’s sails? Would the result against Stoke have been different if the Gunners had managed to hold on to their lead against their arch-rivals? It’s hard to tell, although it’s clear that Arsene Wenger’s men were outfought at the Britannia on Saturday, and were a beaten team long before the final whistle.

Gale Clichy is now calling on his team-mates to buck up their ideas and start playing more as a team. ESPN reports that the Frenchman feels that players must improve their workrate if they are to turn their season around and prevent another potless season.

Clichy told Arsenal TV Online: ”[Against Stoke] I think we lacked a bit of everything: up front we couldn’t keep the ball, in the middle we didn’t run enough and at the back we conceded goals again.

”So all the team was to blame again and I think we have to really work harder and to give the confidence back to the boss because every day he is giving us a lot of credit.

”I think now it is time to realise that we have got the quality but we need to work harder because football is not only about playing nice football and goals. We have to really work as a team and maybe everything will be better.”

In previous seasons, Arsenal’s superior fitness has often seen them finish a game particularly strongly. Last term, they scored a lot of late goals which was testament to their workrate and character. However, it seems as though they are on the receiving end of other’s team’s endeavour at the moment, are supporters confident that this can still be a season to remember?

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