Arsenal: Arsene Wenger provides final litmus test for under-performers

Arsenal’s final stretch of the season suddenly has meaning, and it should give us a clear indication of who is good enough, and who isn’t.

Arsenal’s meaningless season has turned around. Over these next few weeks, the final that Arsene Wenger will have as the manager of this club, we will see the resolve of a bunch of players who we have often questioned.

And rightfully so. Individually, few doubt the talent levels of the players in this squad, but as a whole, they have under-achieved massively, with this year being their crowning achievement of mediocrity.

Some blamed their inability to perform on the lack of urgency. There was no threat to their jobs, so why would they step up and rise to the occasion beyond individual moments of inspiration?

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Things are different now. Wenger will not be here to protect them this summer (at least assumedly not, he may take on a different role within the club) so these players will be at the whims of someone new. They now have to step up and prove themselves, lest they remain inadequate for the next head man, at which point they will be forced to find a new home, and one that is likely less forgiving than this one.

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It’s a situation that no one on this team has been in before, and, as fans, you will never see a truer indication of what a player is worth than how they show up for the rest of the season. Honestly, I think we are going to like what we see.

Plus, it is going to end up being a pretty good indication of what to look forward to next year, and that’s without the summer transfer window.

Then there is the matter of wanting to send Wenger off with the pomp that he deserves, and that should include zero losses. Wenger timed his announcement like this for a reason, and while seemingly no one saw it coming, now that it’s here, it’s time for them to answer.

All of these players are talking about how much they owe Arsene Wenger. Now is the time to shut up and show it on the pitch while you still can, because there won’t be another chance.

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This is as exciting as it is sad and nervy. Probably moreso. These players, a lot of them for the first time, will be operating outside of that protective blanket that they could always cover up with. Let’s see who can stand on their own two feet.