The morning after a defeat is always a good time to sit and think about what contributed to the loss. For Arsenal fans, they woke up to pictures of Arsene Wenger and Jack Wilshere plastered all over the newspapers and sports websites. Not surprising, but, now more than ever, fans and neutrals are calling for Wenger to leave.
One important question to ask is whether or not Arsene Wenger is the main problem, let alone the only problem.
Responsible for putting out the best options, Wenger is in charge of that, but he is not able to dictate what decisions the players make while on the pitch.
Against Blackburn on Saturday, Arsenal dominated possession and had a significant amount of chances, but the Gunners were unable to score. That seems like a typical story for an Arsenal match, especially having conceded on a play that could well have been avoided. Szczesny's lack of composure once again gifted an opposing player with a second chance, and fortunately for Kazim-Richards, his shot found the back of the net.
Szczesny Needs Competition
The Polish keeper appears to have lost some self confidence after having been sent off in Euro 2012. While he can be a very good shot stopper, his decision making is not always the best.
On corner kicks, he tends to get lost behind a group of players, and on balls played into the box, he never seems comfortable. 
Against Sunderland, it goes without saying that together with Arsenal's resolute defending, Szczesny was one of the important figures in the Gunners victory. But, as we have seen in the past, the young keeper is unable to stay consistent and coughed up a rebound against Blackburn which dictated Arsenal's elimination from the FA Cup.
He may not be the only one to blame, but his lack of consistency could also be affecting the rest of the team. Knowing you have a solid option between the posts will always allow you to play with more confidence, but never knowing what to expect from your goalie will add unneeded pressure to all the players.
Bayern's second goal on Tuesday night could well fall on Szczesny's shoulders. Yes the Bayern Munich player got a clear header, but Szczesny could have done much better with that save. Despite the Arsenal players standing around and not having much time to react, the Arsenal goalkeeper did not look very good on that goal.
Keeping him at Arsenal is important given his age. What would really help him would be to bring in another goalkeeper who can push him to the limit and force him to always be at his best. Having someone like Jens Lehman in the squad now is important because he has been with Arsenal through their glory years and he can teach Szczesny a lot. But, in order for the Polish keeper to get better, he will need to have someone behind him who is just as good, if not better, who will keep him on his toes at all times.
Thomas Vermaelen's Inconsistencies & Lack of Leadership
The Belgian defender has been a fan favorite since his arrival at Arsenal. He is big, strong, has pace and is very good with his feet considering he is a defender.
After spending some time away from the team due to injuries, Vermaelen is finally playing on a consistent basis, and was awarded captaincy of the team at the beginning of the season. Most were delighted with this decision, but as the season has played out, he may not be exactly what Arsenal is looking for.
When you think of captains, you think of leaders. Players like Patrick Vieira, Tony Adams, Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp or even Gilberto Silva. These players not only were great players, but they were great leaders. It is safe to say that regardless of who was on Arsenal at the time, most, if not all the Arsenal players looked up to one of these captains.
Today, some will argue that Thomas Vermaelen is not even Arsenal's best option at center-back, let alone as captain. He lacks that fire that someone like Jack Wilshere has. It is very rare to see Vermaelen lay into a player or the team as a whole when a bad decision is made, or when they are not playing all that well.
Of all the players, he is the one who needs to lead by example and lift the team's spirit when they need him most. If anything, his clumsy challenges in dangerous areas put Arsenal under incredible amounts of pressure. Some will even argue that since being appointed captain, his play has declined significantly.
Getting Arsenal on the right track does not consist of doing much, but it will require doing the simple things properly. To start, Vermaelen needs to not only step up his game, but he needs to make sure the players are aware that Arsenal can not have players who do not leave it all on the field every match. From the starters to the reserves, when called upon, they need to make sure they have not an ounce of energy when they walk off that field, and Vermaelen needs to be the one to make them aware of that.
From getting the squad together before a practice or after a practice, to letting them know on the pitch, the Belgian defender needs to embrace his new role and be more vocal, as well as more consistent on the pitch.
11 Jack Wilshere's Would Do The Trick
Their is not enough praise you can give the young England midfielder. Images after the Bayern Munich defeat showed a very frustrated and distraught Jack Wilshere. It almost seems as if Wilshere is the only one who is really struggling with Arsenal's inconsistencies, but some players do not always show emotion.
As has been the case since his return, Wilshere once again tried to carry Arsenal forward against Bayern Munich, but Jack's big imagination and lung capacity was not enough for a German side that out classed and out performed the Gunners.
His ability to dictate the pace of the match in the Arsenal midfield is fundamental, along with his positive attitude and never give up mentality. Their is never a dead play for Wilshere, and at times that may get him into trouble with a more aggressive tackle, but in the end, that is what Arsenal needs.
Players who are ready to lay it all on the line for their club, fans, teammates and manager. Wilshere never turns his back to a play and although he may be young, he is arguably Arsenal's biggest asset at the moment.
Without him, Arsenal lacks that fighting attitude in the midfield, which is a main reason as to why the Gunners need a big and strong defensive midfielder who will allow Wilshere to focus more on offense. Having to constantly track back to defend given Arsenal's lack of a true defensive midfielder is not only draining the Englishman, but it is also taking away from Arsenal's offense.
Making sure Wilshere does not get burnt out this season is key if Wenger wants to see his side make a push for the top four. If only they could inject his competitive mentality into the rest of the team, maybe Arsenal could play with more urgency and passion.
Is It Wenger, Kroenke or Gazidis?
Many are quick to point the finger at Arsene Wenger considering it has been eight long and miserable years since the Gunners lifted a trophy. The Frenchman's first eight years at the Gunners were fantastic, but his last eight have not been all that amazing, at least from a footballing perspective.
Yes Arsenal has a new stadium and they are financially well balanced, but at the end of the day, Arsenal fans want titles, and for eight years now, Wenger has not been able to bring any back to the Emirates. Who is behind the struggle?
While opinions will vary, Stan Kroenke has to be culprit number one. This guy is an American Billionaire worth $4 Billion according to Forbes, yet he does not know much, if anything about football, let alone Arsenal Football Club.
Apart from being the main shareholder for Arsenal, he is the owner of the St. Louis Rams (NFL), Denver Nuggets (NBA), Colorado Avalanche (NHL), Colorado Rapids (MLS) and the Colorado Mammoth (Lacrosse). So with all these organizations under his list of hobbies, when does he have time to focus on just one of them?
He is rarely at Arsenal matches, and if asked, he probably could not name five to ten players on the Arsenal squad. His lack of leadership at the club is noticeable, as is his lack of wanting to spend. Running Arsenal as a business is the main focus, as it is clear that he is ok with a top four finish in the Premier League.
Ivan Gazidis is another person to blame as it is him that should be pressuring Arsene Wenger for silverware, but instead, he always comes out to defend Le Prof. For a club like Arsenal to go eight years without silverware, something needs to be done, yet Gazidis always says that their is money to spend, but they do not generally spend it. Why?
Robin Van Persie not only left for footballing reasons and the desire to win titles, but Arsenal was unwilling to pay the salary he was requesting. Leading scorer of the team and he literally carried the team to a top three finish, yet they are unwilling to match his demands? Yes he is injury prone, but if you want to win titles, you need to keep your best players.
Not wanting to negotiate the salary with RVP put Wenger in a tough position. A position the Frenchman should never have been in, had Gazidis been competent and willing to put money and profits behind the desire to win titles.
Together, Gazidis and Kroenke do not have the mentality that Arsenal needs in the boardroom. If the major shareholder does not pressure those below him to win titles, things will not change. So, until their is pressure from above forcing Wenger to catch up with modern football, he will continue to be stubborn and live by the strategies that earned him all the success in his first years at Arsenal Football Club.
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