We obviously do need some fresh signings if only to shake up the current squad and introduce something new to our game, like goals for instance. We've got three months to discuss who should/shouldn't come to Arsenal, so no rush on that one, but I have questions which maybe go deeper to the core of Arsenal and need answering first.

It is accepted that in group dynamics, a group will tend to take on the character and traits of it's leader. When Tony Adams was captain there was little doubt who was the leader, and his effect on the team. The question we have to ask ourselves is 'who is the leader now?' Point being that in any group, it is not necessarily the official leader, it is the person with most influence over that group who is the leader. I confess to being at a loss to say who is the leader on the pitch for Arsenal, who is giving the example which is being followed. Even when the club captain is playing it makes little difference. This isn't an attack on Thierry being captain because as I said before it isn't necessarily the captain who leads, but someone has to.

The problem is, when no-one is leading, you don't have a team, you have a bunch of individual players playing individually. Does this directly account for lack of goals? No it does not, but with the talent we have, how do we not score more? It has to be psychological (confidence if you prefer), and if it is, we need someone to step up and give the team focus and belief. I fear that if this does not happen, we will continue as we are, and what we are is a team being led by the manager, not a player.

You might ask why that is a problem, he's supposed to be in charge after all. Well yes, but have you listened to any post-match comments by Arsene? They go along the lines of we have great mental strength, we have the talent, we were unlucky, we lacked the clinical edge, etc. If this is all the input the team are getting, then maybe they have begun to think that they can always pull back a one goal deficit, they don't need to start like the Invincibles at 100mph and maybe even they have some sort of divine right to win and it'll all work out OK in the end.

I freely admit the sports psychology is rather more than the somewhat simplistic view I have outlined, but the point still stands. If the most valuable part of Vieira's game was leading on the pitch, then not replacing that has to be a error of judgement. You might hope that someone like Gallas could have taken that on with his experience, but instead he is generously giving it another year at Arsenal to see how it pans out. I'm not one to look back fondly on the George Graham years, but something of the Arsenal ethic from then wouldn't go amiss now.

I truly am hopeful for next season, with a couple of good signings, with Thierry and RVP back and fit and if we learn that one good pass is always better than three, we can expect an end to the frustration of this season. Provided our heads are right.