The sense of apathy was overwhelming. Not even one of the great goals of the season could lift the mood.

It almost feels as if the malaise has run so deep that even the loudest member of the 'Wenger Out' brigade has given up shouting.

Then you really know you are in trouble.

A quick look at the Premier League table after Saturday's 1-0 win over Newcastle should serve as a reminder that things are not actually that bad for Arsenal but it does feel as if Arsene Wenger’s reign is drifting towards nothingness.

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The game was flat, the fans were underwhelmed — though they hardly got worked up about what they were watching.

They only booed when Alexandre Lacazette was substituted (though you have to wonder if those fans that did had watched the game) and when Granit Xhaka misplaced yet another pass.

Arsenal got the job done, even if it was painful at times and Mesut Ozil’s wonder-strike — a stunning volley — was the only memorable moment.

Incredibly, the Gunners did their best to throw it away in the closing stages because they lost their focus amid the tedium and nearly let Newcastle back into the game.

Arsenal fans have probably become rather complacent, as the attendance was announced officially as 59,379, but the reality was plenty of empty seats as once again thousands of season ticket holders (who are always included in the count) could not be bothered to turn up.

Ozil volleyed a dropping ball back in past Newcastle keeper Rob Elliot... (
Image:
AFP/Getty Images)
...for the only goal of an otherwise forgettable 90 minutes... (
Image:
REUTERS)
...but the win and results elsewhere took Arsenal back into the top four (
Image:
Getty)

They might be vaguely more interested in the Carabao Cup quarter-final with West Ham on Tuesday, when the kids and fringe players get a run-out, or even the Liverpool game next Friday when the first teamers will definitely be up for it.

Petr Cech is still haunted by the reverse fixture at Anfield in August, when Arsenal were humiliated 4-0.

The Gunners' keeper admits it was one of the worst experiences of his long career.

Cech, 35, said: “The game we played at Liverpool was probably the worst game we played all season. We got battered 4-0 and it could have been more. We need to make sure this time we are ready. It was probably one of the worst experiences I have had as a player.

Alexis Sanchez and co have a chance to avenge their 4-0 Anfield thumping on Friday (
Image:
Arsenal FC via Getty)

“When you stand there at 4-0 down, and you can see it could have been even more because the performance was that poor.

“I think we improved after that game. I thought we showed a good reaction from everyone. In the next game, we played Chelsea away, we got a clean sheet, we got a 0-0, we played really well.

“It was probably a good slap and showed that in this league when you are not ready you can get hammered. We gave them three points in the first game and we can’t give them more points.”

For a team which is rightly so often criticised for their defending, Cech actually deserves huge credit for smashing the Premier League clean sheet record.

Cech is one clean sheet from 200 in the Premier League after keeping Newcastle out (
Image:
AFP/Getty)

He beat David James’ previous best when he reached 170 two years ago, made it 199 with another shut-out against Newcastle and has his sights set on reaching 200 against Liverpool.

“We played 18 games, we have nine clean sheets which is a pretty good ratio, I would say,” said Cech. “We had games where we were definitely not good and conceded a few goals, but we had games where we were pretty solid as well.

“Everybody speaks about Arsenal and not having defenders, but if you look at the table of the clean sheets then we are right there.

“A few weeks ago, I hoped that, with so many games coming up before Christmas, the Liverpool game would be the one where I could actually get the 200th so it’s going to plan.

“Hopefully we can get a win and obviously the clean sheet, but the win will be more important. I’m proud of the record and hopefully I can add as many as I can.”

Cech compared Ozil’s wonder goal to Zinedine Zidane’s super striker in the 2002 Champions League final and claimed the Germany superstar deserves credit for his form this season.

Cech added: “It was a fantastic goal.

“It made me think of the Zidane goal in the Champions League final in Glasgow. The ball went the other way, but the technique was a moment of brilliance.

“He [Ozil] had a fantastic game. I think if you come under pressure then you want to respond in the right way which is on the pitch.

Legend Zidane whacks in one of the all-time great goals in the 2002 European Cup final (
Image:
Getty)

“Sometimes people forget that when you are a player, play for a top national team then you play every week, play every summer, have a short break and you carry on, carry on, carry on and I think the first few months of the season the fatigue caught up with him.

“You could see he was as not as sharp as he is now which I think he benefits from.”

It might be worth some Arsenal fans remembering that they are watching a genuine world class talent and replacing Wenger is no guarantee of progress.

It seems some want change for change’s sake.

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