We’re writing this before the two most important games of the season so far, against Rosenborg and Chelsea. Here’s hoping that Arsenal have won both.

*October and November have been wretched months by Arsenal’s high standards, with problems at both ends of the pitch. It seems that opponents have worked out how to play against the Gunners – or they’ve rediscovered the template laid down by Ajax coach Ronald Koeman in the Champions League two seasons ago. 

Sam Allardyce’s Bolton showed the way when they drew 2-2 at Highbury on 18 September.  Since then, relegation-threatened Southampton and West Bromwich have taken points and the Gunners have lost at Manchester United and Liverpool. That’s without mentioning their stuttering Champions League form. Thank heavens that Angelos Basinas missed that penalty for Panathinaikos! 

Southampton, West Bromwich, Rosenborg, Panathinaikos and PSV have followed a formula. They defend deep to stop Thierry Henry and/or Jose Antonio Reyes getting in behind them. They congest the midfield to stop Arsenal building up momentum. They try to slow the pace. Then they force the Gunners wide and block the middle – knowing that Arsenal can’t hit crosses because they have no striker who will attack the box, let alone win the ball in the air.

Chelsea have Didier Drogba and Eidur Gudjohnsen, who will both play in the box. Manchester United have the predator par excellence, Ruud van Nistelrooy. The small but gritty Freddie Ljungberg is the only Arsenal attacker prepared to run in on centres. We’ve been banging on, for more than two seasons now, that the Gunners lack a Plan B if their silky football is thwarted. Andy Gray has started saying the same on Sky. So have several national football writers. Is Arsene listening?

*Wenger has been unlucky in central midfield. He could never have expected that Gilberto (back) and Edu (broken toe) would suffer long-term injuries – at the same time – when he let Ray Parlour join Middlesbrough in the summer. How Arsenal need Parlour’s battling qualities now. Teenager Cesc Fabregas is going to be a terrific player, but right now he’s being knocked about by older, stronger rivals.

*When was the last time that Arsenal went 12 games without a clean sheet? As we saw again, in the two games against Panathinaikos, Jens Lehmann is a fine shot-stopper but prone to costly errors; while Pascal Cygan is an accident waiting to happen. Bolton showed up the Gunners’ vulnerability at crosses and setpieces. Southampton and West Bromwich exploited that weakness. No wonder Arsene rushed Sol Campbell back for the game in Eindhoven. Yet the Gunners were caught flatfooted again – Lehmann stranded – when unmarked Andre Oijer headed PSV in front. They were almost beaten a second time when Wilfred Bouma planted a free header wide in the second half. Perhaps, Steve Bould, now a Highbury youth coach, could give them some tips on defending set plays. The malaise has spread to the Gunners’ Carling Cup team too, judging by Manchester United’s winner after 19 seconds: an over-hit pass, two Arsenal defenders falling over, and a shot going through Manuel Almunia’s hands. A comedy of errors.

*Targets for the transfer window? A strong defensive centre back is a priority. A centre forward who could come off the bench to play in the box would be useful. And, long-term, the Gunners need a sound keeper who inspires confidence in his defenders. (Pretty much what we wrote, six months ago!)

*The new £357million, 60,000-capacity stadium at Ashburton Grove is well on schedule for the move in 2006. Meanwhile, the Gunners hope to redevelop Highbury into an apartment complex of more than 500 flats.