It’s time for Arsenal to do what Arsenal do best

The situation has taken a dramatic turn for the worse. One hour before kick-off against Crystal Palace and Arsenal were on the crest of a wave. No it feels as if they’ve been engulfed by the tide.

Slumping to a 3-0 defeat is one thing. It could be taken in isolation, analysed, and brushed aside as an off day. It happens. Just prior to that Chelsea lost 4-1 at home to Brentford. It’s the Premier League and good teams lose football matches when it’s least expected.

Having it confirmed that Kieran Tierney is out for the season and it looking for all the world as if Thomas Partey will follow suit, the mood has swiftly changed. Arsenal were a side fully fit with the exception of one right-back, and had been showing resilience and fight to match their undisputed quality.

On a list of players most irreplaceable for Arsenal, Partey and Tierney ranked highly. Very highly. Their continued absences are what has turned the atmosphere on its head and resigned most to a place outside of the top four.

It’s time for Arsenal to do what Arsenal do best and support the team and each other through the final nine Premier League matches of the season

The fixtures to come are tough, two integral elements of the team ripped out and the two players to replace them have either barely kicked a ball this year or struggled to entirely when they’ve been on the pitch.

Throughout the season it’s been the unity within the whole club, not just with the players, that has been uniquely elevating. Not in the history of the Emirates Stadium have the fans been this invested and connected to the those whose club they represent. Arsenal Football Club has changed, for the better.

Now, more than ever, must Arsenal do what Arsenal has done best across the campaign: support.

Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares will need every inch of backing they can get if Arsenal are to plough on with the graft and guts that have taken them to within nine games of a Champions League return.

In the bleakest of times there is no greater strength than unity. It’s been on show when faced with adversity already this campaign and it can’t let up. It won’t let up.

Until the final whistle on the final day or the final whistle on the result that confirms their fate, Arsenal will keep fighting. So too will the fans.

The players want this just as much, if not more, than the supporters. Now is the time to share each others’ burdens.