Arsenal must look to the past for hope

After a humiliating first leg defeat at home to Bayern Munich, Arsenal look closer to the brink than ever before. The boos reached new decibel levels on Tuesday night as Arsene Wenger’s men edged closer to elimination from another competition with a 3-1 loss to Bayern.

Going in to the game Wenger’s mood had been bullish and defiant. He promised a performance from his players in response to the criticism his side had received in recent weeks.

Arsenal are now all but out of all competitions this season. The Premiership has been beyond their grasp since November. They suffered a humiliating exit in the League Cup to league 2 side Bradford and last week saw them fall out of the FA cup rather meekly to a poor Blackburn side.

The return leg in Munich now looks a daunting prospect. Arsenal could well be facing a humiliation at the hands of the Germans who are in scintillating form at the minute. To look back through the history books will offer Wenger little hope.

Only four teams have ever turned around a first leg home defeat and gone on to win in a Champions League or European Cup knockout tie. And only one of those four teams has turned around a two goal deficit in the away fixture.

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Indeed Arsene Wenger will see the immensity of the task ahead of his team and know deep down it is far beyond them. Van Persie’s departure has only proved how much they relied on him last year.

Arsenal will more than likely be out of all competitions by the 13^th March. Another year without a trophy, but more telling is the lack of character and strength in his current squad.

Wenger may look to the past for hope against Bayern and say it can be done. The odds are against them but this is football after all.