The papers this morning are having a field day on the back of the club’s Champions League exit. Prime rationale is the lack of strength in depth in the squad and a certain element will be writing from the position of ‘see I told you they were not good enough to win anything‘. Helping them along the way was Emmanuel Adebayor,

At the end of the season in every club there are a lot of changes, and the boss will decide who is going to stay and who is going to leave the club.

I do not doubt that the Togolese international is correct in his assertion; the press assume Lehmann and Gilberto are going along with Philippe Senderos and Justin Hoyte being names mooted, the latter no doubt to the chagrin of those who believe that the Arsenal squad lacks an English presence. Henry Winter raises some valid points along those lines in this morning’s Daily Telegraph whilst Michael Henderson puts his size 11’s into the fray. As if to prove that there are a lot of people with more money than sense, the bookies have made Jose Mourinho favourite to replace Arsene this summer. Aaah, a magical dream team, ‘The Special One’ and Alisher Usmanov. Who could possibly oppose those two arrivals….

William Gallas meanwhile viewed the defeat as the result of inexperience,

We lacked experience. You can’t concede a penalty 30 seconds after equalising. Now it will be hard to bounce back. Morale is low. Nobody expected much from us at the start of the season and we’ve overachieved. But when you get this far, it still hurts

This is one area that Gallas now has to show his leadership skills; he might have been criticised for his reaction but between himself, Arsene and the other senior members of the squad, they have to show courage and conviction to raise the morale of the squad. The impact and manner of the defeat at Anfield has brought into question the mental attitude of the players. Arsene used the word ‘immaturity’, which is open to interpretation. Collectively, they did indeed show naivete when defending immediately after Adebayor’s equaliser. Unquestionably, the ball should not have been allowed to progress with the ease that it did down the Liverpool left during the move that led to the award of the decisive penalty.

Emmanuel Adebayor remains bullish about the remainder of the season,

I believe it’s still possible for us to win the League but we have to lift ourselves, keep our focus and keep our mentality strong. I think we will show that at Old Trafford, and stay in the battle for the title

It is as they say, a big ‘ask’. To have put so much effort into one match and then to lose it when victory is within your grasp is bound to affect the players mentally. The question will be how much of an impact it has. From the players perspective, it seems that they are waiting on Arsene’s ‘magic sponge for the head’ to get to work.

Gilberto Silva meanwhile says that he will not be watching the semi-final between Chelsea and Liverpool,

I don’t know if I will be watching the Semi-Final games now. It will be very painful

I have to say he is not the only one and for the same reason. It will be painful; painfully dull as anyone who had the misfortune to watch the previous turgid encounters between these two sides, both of whom see attacking, attractive football as an anathema. One should not deride the tactical side of the game but when it used as a method to stifle, I remember the George Graham days towards the end of his reign and frankly I thank the footballing gods for sending us Arsene Wenger. Back to Gilberto. The Brazilian did make one valid point,

Sometimes you learn more in defeat than you do when you win but, of course, no one at this Club enjoys it when you lose the game, especially an opportunity to get into a Champions League Semi-Final. We will learn from the result but I would prefer to learn when we achieve good things

This is true. In adversity, lessons can be learned and used in the future. Gilberto asked the question as to why the team could not win the Premier League title,

It is important to win the next five games. If we do that, then why not?

Whilst I the dreamy side of my nature has not given up hope, the practicality of Arsenal’s situation is such that the dream of being Champions is just that. Realistically, we are hoping for two teams to foul up; one, I could have lived with but two is pushing the boat just a wee bit too far. Still, until it is actually over one should never give up. After all, if you cannot have a dream in football, what else is left?

‘til Tomorrow.