Cowardice seems to be sweeping through the Emirates Stadium; the board are cowards for failing to cut ties amicably with coach Arsene Wenger last season when they had the chance, and Wenger is a coward for not admitting to himself that it was time to step aside.

On top of that, the players aren’t stepping up to the plate as respective 1-0 and 4-0 defeats away to Stoke and Liverpool bare testament.

It’s been the same old story at Arsenal for the last decade. Since last winning the league in 2004 the attitude has been to just truck on with top four finishes and occasional FA Cup wins — but that’s not good enough for a club of this stature. They could have achieved so much more in that time beyond just counting the profits gained from treading water.

The end of last season was a perfect opportunity to dispense of Wenger gracefully given the fact that although they failed to make the top four for the first time in his 21-year tenure, they still won the FA Cup, making for what would have been a perfect — and justified — Wembley farewell for the Frenchman.

However, the Arsenal board curiously offered out of contract Wenger a two-year extension and he even more curiously accepted.

For Wenger to plough on despite things going south was one thing, but for the club to fear that they couldn’t do any better with change was quite another. Gutsy decisions needed to be made but they weren’t and now the opportunity for this to end nicely has surpassed, and a legacy will be truly tarnished.

This season was the chance for Wenger to turn things around quickly but if the first three games are anything to go by, it just isn’t happening.

The players were heavily criticised after their 4-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, but in truth it’s not entirely their fault. Not only is the club being directed by a weak board it’s also being led by a weak manager, so no wonder they are just as toothless.

There’s also the fact that players are being played out of position or, in the case of new £50 million signing Alexandre Lacazette, not being played at all. The lack of holding midfielders is also a problem with everyone running forward and getting caught on the counter.

Wenger now has time with the international window and a few days left before the transfer window closes to try and rally the troops or bring in a few more signings. But if after that they still can’t beat Bournemouth at home on September 9 there’s real trouble especially with an away trip to Chelsea following so soon after on September 17.