Arsenal once an institution are now a club in a mess

ARSENAL may once have been an institution, but they are currently driving their fans crazy. The club are in a mess and Tuesday night's doubts about their ability to get past even the first round of the UEFA Cup was only the latest piece of egg to hit the face.

For instance, no one knows when the next manager, Arsene Wenger, is going to forsake the land of the rising sun to lift the clouds over Highbury and the caretaker manager Stewart Houston could soon be on his way to join George Graham at Leeds.

However, the way may soon be clear for Wenger to leave Japanese club Grarnpus Eight. Yesterday Carlos Queiroz, the coach of US Major League club New York New Jersey, said he had been offered Wenger's job.

The multi million pound input of Vieira and Garde has so far been a waste of time because both are struggling for full fitness. And to the long term injury of Tony Adams can be added a serious hamstring problem for one of the team's few class players, Dennis Bergkamp.

Whatever the reasons for Arsenal's first leg defeat by Borussia Monchengladbach, failure to progress further in this competition will deprive Arsenal's financial planners of at least £500,000 a round in lost television and advertising revenue up to £1 million a round had they drawn one of Europe's big teams. That is a very expensive round.

It would be too simplistic to lay the blame for Tuesday on one person. Arguably had the old dependables, Adams and Steve Bould, been in the centre of Arsenals defence the home side's offside trap would not have been sprung for Borussia's first goal, Andy Linighan would not have been on the pitch to make the error for the Germans' second and a free header would not have been allowed for the third.

Equally, on another night Arsenal may not have found a post and an inspired goalkeeper in the way of them scoring more than twice. And Bergkamp going off after 19 minutes does not help.

But, equally, the Arsenal board has to be blamed, for the concentration and confidence that goes into producing the organised and disciplined performances that characterised Arsenal's best years must have been undermined by events off the pitch.

The unsavoury manner of Bruce Rioch's departure (bad timing and bad manners personified), the delay in Wenger's arrival and now speculation over the respected Houston's departure, must have an unsettling effect on even the most assured group of players.

Who knows what the situation will be when the second leg comes around on September 25th. If Arsenal can take hope, it is from the fact that the poor state of Borussia's ground means the tic will be played at Cologne, where the Germans have not won for four years.

Adams is unlikely to be fit for that game, despite having resumed training after the knee operation that has kept him out since January. Bergkamp is also very doubtful.

The one piece of encouraging news for Arsenal fans is that Wenger is keen to bring to Highbury Stefan Effenberg, whose class and composure at the heart of most of Borussia's attacking movements characterised the difference between the two sides on Tuesday night.