Wenger´s woeful week hits a new low

Arsene Wenger's dismal week hit a new low at Eastlands as his Arsenal side slumped to a comprehensive 3-0 defeat against Manchester City on Saturday.

Goals from Stephen Ireland, Robinho and Daniel Sturridge condemned Wenger's side to a third defeat in four league games and added to the sense of gloom surrounding the club in the wake of William Gallas' midweek outburst.

Gallas had launched an astonishingly forthright attack on his team-mates claiming they did not have the stomach for the fight and accusing unnamed individuals of working against, rather than with the team ethic.

Those comments prompted Wenger to strip the France international of the club captaincy and the defender was omitted from the party that travelled north to Manchester.

And just hours after Gallas had been spotted at Arsenal's North London training ground, Manuel Almunia was handed the job of leading out the side at the City of Manchester Stadium on his 100th appearance for the club while Swiss youngster Johann Djourou deputised in central defence.

With Theo Walcott and Emmanuel Adebayor injured on international duty and influential midfielder Cesc Fabregas suspended, Wenger had no choice but to place his faith in youth, opting for an outfield starting line-up that included just three players aged 23 or over and a bench, the replacement keeper aside, made up entirely of teenagers.

These were the players Gallas accused of lacking steel.

And with Mark Hughes desperate to instil some spirit and consistency in his under-performing City side, that was always a quality that was going to be required if Wenger's side were to get anything from this game.

Not that City offered much of a testing challenge during an insipid opening 45 minutes when, for once, Arsenal found themselves entangled in an unimaginative midfield slog that produced little in the way of chances.

Almunia was given precious little opportunity to lead by example with only a Robinho free-kick causing any discomfort.

At the other end Joe Hart – apparently unaffected by reports that City are preparing a 50 million pounds bid for Juventus number on Gianluigi Buffon – was also given an easy time although he should have done better than spill Samir Nasri's free-kick.

Then, just when it appeared Arsenal had at least injected stability into a turbulent week, they conjured a horrible defensive foul-up that gifted Ireland's opening goal in first half added time.

The City midfielder's direct run appeared to have come to halt but Ireland couldn't believe his luck when Gael Clichy and Mikael Silvestre got in each other's way to spoon the ball into Ireland's path just ten yards in front of goal and he finished well.

That was the last thing Arsenal's fragile confidence needed although they did at least respond positively immediately after the restart with Robin van Persie coming close.

But any hope of a rally was quickly snuffed out in the 57th minute when Robinho ran onto Shaun Wright-Phillips' perfectly weighted through ball and dinked the ball over Almunia for the cheekiest of finishes that gave the Brazilian his ninth goal of the season.

The outcome could have been far worse for Wenger with Robinho spurning a far easier chance when fell over after rounding Almunia, twisting his ankle in the process.

But an painful afternoon was made complete when Djourou fouled Sturridge in added time and the substitute converted the resulting penalty with ease.