Great – just not in the trophy-winning sense

Twice in little over a week, Arsenal have scintillated with their trickery, their passing, their finishing and their youth. Had the performances been consecutive, it would seem there was nothing this side could not achieve. But the fact 6-0 and 4-0 wins were sandwiched by a humiliating home defeat to Hull City rather serves to rein in the hyperbole.

What is clear is Arsenal’s attacking players possess a dynamism, fluidity and supreme ease in controlling the ball is that even Chelsea and Manchester United at their best find hard to match. When Arsenal are playing well watching them can create a rare sensation. The individual brilliance of players is transcended by the greater collective whole, for their ball retention, intricate passing and sheer audacity is the product of not so much players as the greater footballing ethos of the club.

Sheffield United are a combative and resilient Championship outfit, yet they were blown away by the wondrous skills of a second-choice side whose average age was just 19. FC Porto are a proud club and the champions of Portugal but they were simply outclassed, flattered to lose by only four goals. Both these performances were superb, but more amazing was the lack of surprise that greeted them: Arsenal have wowed with such regularity under Arsene Wenger that they have a feeling of certain regularity. The depth of young talent, as Carlos Vela and Jack Wiltshire are the latest to illustrate, is phenomenal.

When Arsenal get momentum, they are often unstoppable, overawing opponents with pace, power and the sheer technical prowess. The problem, alas, is when things are not so easy: when an early goal is not forthcoming, passes are misplaced and frustration grows.

There may be a temptation to label Arsenal flat-track bullies – brilliant performers sometimes outperform all against grade B opponents but are consistently outdone by the very best, as the retirement of Graeme Hick is a reminder of. It is expedient to, but doesn’t hold up: Arsenal have held their own against the best, and their outstanding performance in the San Siro felt like a defining moment in the side’s development, the moment when potential gave way to regular performance.

Except it hasn’t quite worked out like that. Still fundamental problems remain: a lack of experience; a lack of depth; a lack of variety in their play; and perhaps getting overly frustrated when they are not bossing the boss. When all is well no one cares. There is no type of style Arsenal lack the ability to master, as the away wins against Blackburn and Bolton illustrated. But they are riddled by a chronic inconsistency and suspicions of certain flakiness. Great sides don’t lose to teams like Fulham and Hull twice in a season, let alone five weeks.

They are not quite there yet; and, reluctant to spend big and to compromise with their style, perhaps they never will be. These fatal flaws are part of what makes them such a delight – and they are great, just not in the trophy-winning sense. But on nights like this, complaints seem rather callous.