Why Arsene Wenger's Arsenal are so vulnerable against likes of Chelsea and Liverpool

The meeting with Chelsea on March 22 was no different. Wenger knew he would be facing an attacking quartet full of guile, pace and dynamism, yet acres of space was presented to José Mourinho’s side on numerous occasions.

For the first goal, Kieran Gibbs and Sagna were caught up field, level in Chelsea’s half – the French full-back providing width that would naturally be given to the side had Theo Walcott not been injured since January.

Chelsea’s André Schürrle makes the interception and in one movement plays a one-two with Oscar, bypassing Mikel Arteta and taking the 32-year-old Spaniard out of the game. Koscielny and Mertesacker are central, isolated against Samuel Eto’o, who drifts into the channel before slotting the ball past Wojciech Szcz?sny.

Chelsea have the opportunity to score their second goal as Gibbs overlaps to give Arsenal width, however a wayward pass is intercepted by Nemanja Mati? and Schürrle attacks the space presented by Gibbs’ movement. Sagna is deeper this time, taking up a better position, but he can’t get back in time to add extra bodies in the box. Arteta is once again bypassed with ease – the defensive midfielder, anchor and central playmaker, failing to fully accomplish any of his assigned roles.

Arteta charges out of position, leaving the two central midfielders in a mix-up. Eden Hazard receives the ball, cuts inside and shoots, only for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to take on the role of goalkeeper. Note how Hazard is attempting to get goal side of Mertesacker, who would take forever and a day to catch up with the Belgian trickster. Should Sagna have provided more support?

Having replaced Kieran Gibbs, who was incorrectly sent off by Andre Marriner, Thomas Vermaelen leaves the left-back position to challenge for a header against Branislav Ivanovi?. However, Chelsea’s colossus wins yet another aerial duel this season (111 in total, with a 68% success rate), allowing Fernando Torres to sneak in behind the defensive line as Koscielny advances to cover. Sagna races into the box, tracking Hazard, but the low cross finds Oscar who easily converts.

Four goals in 42 minutes, gifted by Arsenal’s leaky defence that contained more holes that a sieve.

The space between Arsenal’s back four was considerable throughout the meeting with their London rivals. Alarming, especially when you consider that they have one of the league’s most unhurried central defenders in Mertesacker.

Was Wenger’s tactical instruction of using a high line, combined with pushing the full-backs forward, brave, or stupid? I respect the Frenchman’s decision to stay true to his tactical beliefs on how he deems the game should be played. But at the cost of failing to pick up points against the best teams in the division?