'Title means nothing to Arsenal board'

The group, who make up the panel on ths 'Sky Sports' show 'Sunday Supplement' suggested that the Arsenal board may be the root of their struggles on the pitch.

The 'Gunners' fell to a late defeat against Watford on Saturday in the late kick-off, despite taking the lead in the game and the panel believe that the club's woes stretch all the way to board level.

Neil Custis, chief northern football writer for English publication 'The Sun', said that the club's board appear happy to merely get by, without feeling any pressure to challenge for the league title

"You get the feeling with Arsenal, not with the fans, that there is an air at the club that it doesn't really matter if they win the league or not," Custis said. "It just doesn't seem to matter to the people that really matter at Arsenal - and I think that filters down to the players.

"I know we are sick of the 'will Wenger stay of go' talk, but the very fact that it is discussed is detrimental to the side."

Martin Samuel of rival publication 'The Daily Mail' concurred, adding that the club's owner Stan Kroenke and his business background may be the problem.

"You look at Kroenke's franchises in America - they are not greatly successful," Samuel explained. "America has this way of making these owners very rich, without having to win things. Kroenke comes from that background.

"It is very easy to look at all the money from the Premier League, and they are part of that big six now that are trying to get even more money from overseas rights.

"They are looking at it thinking why try to win the league when we can tick along nicely as a business and we don't have to risk anything. At the top, it hasn't set in with Wenger, but the people who own the club look at it in a different way and know they can still make a lot of money without winning the league."

These claims will only serve to confirm the worst fears of Arsenal fans, who still sit desperately hoping that the club can stop the rot sooner rather than later.