Just a few weeks ago, there was such a sense of optimism among the Arsenal camp, with results and a new-found defensive endeavor all filling the Arsenal faithful with hope and promise of a fruitful season ahead.
How quickly things can change. Post international break, Arsenal have won just one game -- against QPR -- without counting the League Cup, because as Arsene Wenger said it doesn't really matter, and that too thanks to an offside goal from Mikel Arteta in the final moments of the game.
The more alarming trend, however, has been the ease with which the likes of Schalke, Manchester United and even Norwich City have shown their superiority and brought out Arsenal's lack of cutting edge.
In none of the games mentioned above did Arsenal ever look like scoring. The likes of Santi Cazorla, Lukas Podolski and Gervinho, before the injury, have tailed off, with their dip in form a telling factor in Arsenal's failings going forward. Arsenal sit seventh in the English Premier League with a mere 15 points from ten matches, the worst ever ten-game start under Arsene Wenger.
If the Gunners are to start a good run, to save their season and bring a sense of hope back to the red half of North London, there is no better place than Germany and against Schalke in the Champions League.
In the reverse fixture, Schalke deservedly won 2-0, with the German side looking the more potent in front of goal, and hardly being threatened in their own half. Despite losing at the weekend to Hoffenheim, Schalke will be the confident side going into the encounter.
The Germans are top of Group B with seven points from three games, with Arsenal on six points. Olympiakos are third on three points, with Montpellier last having picked up a single point in three matches so far.
Arsenal have left Aaron Ramsey behind, after the midfielder suffered a groin injury, with Theo Walcott a doubt due to illness. Arsenal's injury list is looking more like the one that Wenger has had to endure unfortunately over the past few years, with Wojciech Szczesny (ankle), Lukasz Fabianski (back), Kieran Gibbs (thigh), Abou Diaby (thigh), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (hip), Tomas Rosicky (tendon) all missing along with Ramsey.
Jack Wilshere after picking up a needless red card against Manchester United is slated for his first Champions League start of the season. "I think I will play him tomorrow (Tuesday)," Wenger said. "Then we have a block of three games and maybe the fact that he gets a period of recovering will be just right for him. He gets better in every game."
Andre Santos, who has been a liability for Arsenal in the past few games, might be replaced by Carl Jenkinson, with Bacary Sagna slotting in at left-back, or Wenger also has the option of switching Thomas Vermaelen to left-back with Laurent Koscielny taking the center-back position.
The key to the game will be the midfield trio of Mikel Arteta, Wilshere and Cazorla - if the three of them can control the pace of the game and get on the ball as much as possible, then the likes of Podolski and Olivier Giroud will come into play, allowing Arsenal to carry that potency.
However, the last few games have seen the Gunners building up their offense too slowly, allowing the defenders to get back and snuff out the chances. Therefore, Wenger is sure to emphasize on the importance of speeding up their build-up, which the likes of Wilshere and Cazorla are extremely capable of doing.
Schalke will again carry a threat through their excellent striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, with Vermaelen, especially needing to cut out the mistakes to prevent the Dutch striker from scoring. Jefferson Farfan and Ibrahim Afellay will again be dangerous in the wide positions, while playmaker Lewis Holtby, who has been linked with a move to Arsenal several times, will be desperate to make an impression.
Expected lineups: Schalke: Unnerstall; Uchida, Howedes, Matip, Fuchs; Jones, Neustadter; Farfan, Holtby, Afellay; Huntelaar.
Arsenal: Mannone; Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Sagna; Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla; Walcott, Podolski, Giroud.
Prediction: 3-1 to Arsenal
