Manchester City 3 Arsenal 0:"WE NEED to be soldiers," William Gallas had volunteered in his brutally honest assessment of Arsenal's shortcomings. But what did they get here? A team lacking any form of togetherness and a centre-forward who decided this was a suitable occasion to wear pink boots. q

They were the brightest shade of Barbie-doll pink imaginable and, unless Nicklas Bendtner was simply being ironic, the ultimate fashion faux pas for any striker who wants to be taken seriously.

Gallas has been accused of a lot of things since the end of last week, but dishonesty cannot figure on the crime-sheet. He had complained of Arsenal becoming a soft touch, of dressingroom cliques and team-mates not being "brave enough in the battle".

He has subsequently been accused of traitorous disloyalty and Arsene Wenger was so incensed he effectively suspended him. But who could possibly argue with the gist of Gallas' complaints after witnessing this dishevelled, utterly limp Arsenal performance? Wenger did not even try, repeating the mantra that there was "nothing to discuss" in a series of post-match exchanges. "We can go on to midnight if you like," he offered at one point. "You appear to be ducking all the relevant issues," he was told, and it is difficult to think there have been too many times when he has looked so unhappy, almost grey with anger.

Leadership on the pitch can come in many different guises, of course, and does not necessarily have to involve players pumping their fists and pushing out their chests. Robinho, it could be reasonably argued, is not just a sublimely talented footballer but an inspirational leader for the way he always wants the ball and to take responsibility, no matter how many opponents are around him. It is known as competitive courage and, for any team to be successful, it is essential.

Arsenal have plenty of footballers with these qualities, just not all the time. Fulham, Hull City, Stoke City and Aston Villa have already exposed this soft centre and, on Saturday, Arsenal conformed to just about every negative stereotype that has attached itself to Wenger's team since he moved on the last of his great tacklers.

Wenger described it as a "flattering victory" but it was nothing of the sort and Mark Hughes was entitled to be irritated. "He's being a little ungracious saying that," City's manager retorted. "I don't think it flattered us at all. We created six or seven opportunities, they created one."

Wenger hinted that Gallas would "maybe" return to the side for tomorrow's Champions League tie against Dynamo Kiev. Briefly he lifted that hard, impenetrable veneer to insist that "of course" Gallas still had a future at the club, but he would not identify which player would captain the side. It was obvious he felt let down and betrayed but, whatever the rights and wrongs of Gallas' public criticisms, Arsenal certainly need him back judging by the defensive errors that, for example, allowed Stephen Ireland to sneak in and strike the ball confidently past Manuel Almunia for the opening goal at the end of an error-strewn, directionless first half.

Robinho, who deserves every superlative in the football glossary, doubled the lead when he was sent running clear by Wright-Phillips and clipped a millimetre-perfect shot over Almunia. Substitute Daniel Sturridge made it 3-0 from the penalty spot at the end.

A fatal blow to Arsenal's title hopes? Hughes certainly thought so, pointing out that "no team can expect to win the league if you have lost five or six times" - especially, he could have added, when the season still has six months to go.

Naturally Wenger begged to differ, but it was depressing to see such a noble football man sound so unconvincing. As much as they love Wenger, the sorry truth for Arsenal's followers is that Gallas seems to be the club's only employee who is willing to say it how it is.

Guardian Service