Arsene Wenger is about to face the most difficult season of his Arsenal career as he attempts to regain the Premiership title from Chelsea. Arsenal remain third favourites (behind United and Chelsea) to win the trophy but are seemingly on the verge of collapse with the season just a month away.

The challenge of replacing the famed Arsenal back-five appeared to be the greatest problem that Wenger would face during his career at Highbury. But despite a few problems, particularly with goalkeepers, this has passed off without any major hitches. However, just a season on from their unbeaten league campaign, Arsenal could in the space of a couple of weeks look threadbare and without significant on-pitch leadership and experience.
Now some may very well doubt that there is a crisis at Arsenal, but they are without doubt in danger of slipping into a damaging decline.(fingers-crossed) The unbeaten record went at Old Trafford last year, and the team's subsequent reaction was certainly not a pretty one. Their inability to focus and get past that loss undoubtedly had a damaging affect on their entire league campaign. Together with another failed attempt to make an impact in Europe, this all means that the team, prematurely hailed as one of the great teams of all time, is about to break up.

Patrick Vieira has left ARSE-nal. Vieira was a shadow of his former self last season, and Wenger may feel that a decent price is all that he can now expect from a player who was at one point the only man capable of challenging Roy Keane as a Premiership midfield force. Last summer it appeared that Vieira may actually leave. The annual transfer bargaining with Real Madrid appeared to have finally found a resolution. Arsenal accepted a bid, but Vieira had a last minute change of heart. It was rumoured that he wasn't to be in the same pay bracket as the rest of the Galaticos, and that was the reason for it falling through.

In addition Robert Pires, who found himself confined to the bench on occasion last year, looks set to join Galatasaray. (huh??!) [ChinBai will be happy] Pires was a key component in the fluid attacking football that earmarked Arsenal's best football, but appears to have taken his foot off the accelerator. Wenger is certainly not trying too hard to keep him.

Ashley Cole, who is evidently not happy himself, has reportedly told his agent that the side is run by the French boys. If that is true, and with two of the senior figures on their way out, where does that leave Henry? The French striker has reiterated his commitment to the club, but if many a senior colleague were to ship out, he may feel the need to jump as well.

Arsenal have a good base of young players to come through and fill the positions. However, Fabregas, Flamini and Van Persie, are not yet experienced, or even physically strong enough to lead a championship challenge in such a physical league. On top of that Reyes has stated his intention, while being tricked on radio, to join Madrid as soon as they will have him. Now he may have stated his commitment to Arsenal, but one must wonder how solid this commitment really is.

All this leaves Wenger in somewhat of a quandary, and could ultimately lead to him leaving himself. The financial restrictions incurred as a result of the new stadium, have left him unable to compete with Chelsea in the transfer market. Hleb has come in and is a capable player, but won't prove to be the buy of the decade by any stretch of the imagination. Nothing much else has been done in the transfer market, aside from allegations of illegal approaches to Sevilla's Baptista.

Wenger himself has often spoken about his fear for the likes of Rooney, who is being over played at such a young age. While never really taking these comments seriously, one can scoff at them even more now with the potential for Arsenal's youngsters to be run into the ground next year.
All of this spells trouble for Arsenal. They were quite some way behind last year, and didn't win a league match against Chelsea or Manchester United last term, and it looks unlikely they'll have the qualities to upset either side again. Wenger himself has been some what sidelined. The Fergie-Wenger tussles have almost been usurped by the mutual admiration of Mourinho and Ferguson, and with Arsenal set to slip down the pecking order next season, Wenger may feel it is time to leave.

Arsene Wenger has driven Arsenal forward over the last eight years and has played a huge part in the building of the stadium, so to question his desire to stay at the club may seem extreme. However, Vieira said he was definitely staying to lead the team out at Ashburton Grove, but that is unlikely at best. If Wenger is powerless to stop his major stars walking out of the club, then he may just think it is time to be on his own way. He certainly won't be short of offers.

The Barclaycard English Premier League is a long way to go and predicting the demise of Arsenal may seem alil far-fetched now, but thats the beauty of football.. we never know.