Arsenals recent collapse has ramped up the pressure on Arsene Wenger, with disgruntled fan groups planning protests during their Saturday Night Football clash with Norwich. Ahead of his 750th Premier League game at the helm, we examine a turbulent period for the Frenchman... On the eve of Arsenals damaging 3-2 defeat to Manchester United in February, Arsene Wenger was asked whether he feared they were on the brink of another second half of the season collapse. The Gunners had just suffered a grimly familiar defeat to Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League last 16, and the trip to Old Trafford presented another psychological hurdle.There is a perception that Arsenal fade in March and April, responded Wenger. Its true we have lost the championship once or twice, but what is different now is that on those occasions we were losing momentum. This time, its the opposite. We are chasing and gaining momentum. Wenger had hoped Danny Welbecks late winner against Leicester two weeks previously would give Arsenal a platform to build on, but instead they slumped to what Graeme Souness described as a weak, insipid and unacceptable defeat against an injury-ravaged United side who had failed to win 10 of their previous 13 league games. Arsenal suffered a 3-2 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford Arsenals wretched run of four wins from 11 games since then has included a sixth consecutive Champions League last-16 exit and an FA Cup knockout by Watford, and the team who led the Premier League table by two points at the start of January were mathematically ruled out of the title race after Sundays goalless draw with Sunderland. So much for the momentum. Arsenals Premier League collapse Premier League 2015/16 P W D L GF GA Win % Pts Before January 2 20 13 3 4 34 18 65.0% 42 After January 2 15 5 7 3 24 16 33.3% 22 Even by Arsenals recent standards, the implosion has been spectacular, and as old weaknesses have resurfaced, many supporters are pointing the finger at the familiar figure in the dugout. Saturdays protests will be aimed at the clubs hierarchy as well as the manager, but some of Wengers recent decision-making has done little to help his cause. Last months 3-3 draw with West Ham was a case in point. Wenger caused widespread bafflement when he selected second-choice goalkeeper David Ospina over the fit-again Petr Cech for the must-win encounter, and the decision to leave the 6ft 6in Per Mertesacker on the bench looked equally questionable as Arsenal were aerially dominated by Andy Carroll.Wenger defended Ospina and expunged the Colombian of blame after the game, only to reinstate Cech for the visit of Crystal Palace the following week. Cech duly conceded a soft goal from Yannick Bolasie as Arsenal surrendered another lead, but that strike highlighted another area of uncertainty. Yannick Bolasie celebrates after equalising for Crystal Palace against Arsenal Indeed, Bolasies strike wouldnt even have arisen had Gabriel Paulista not given Emmanuel Adebayor so much time and space to hold the ball up on Arsenals left flank before setting up the chance, and the Brazilian made little effort to block Bolasies shot after moving back across into the centre of defence. Arsenal must address defence Arsene Wenger needs a defensive overhaul this summer, says Charlie Nicholas. Gabriel had kept his place in the side that day despite turning his back on Carrolls acrobatic leveller at Upton Park, and it wasnt his first costly error since moving ahead of Mertesacker in Wengers pecking order. His miscued clearance and poor marking allowed Marcus Rashford to score twice in three minutes at Old Trafford, and he was also turned too easily for Odion Ighalos opener in the FA Cup defeat by Watford. Gabriel Paulista endured a difficult afternoon up against Andy Carroll Mertesacker, of course, is not without his limitations, but it was certainly strange to see one of Arsenals most experienced campaigners confined to the bench as his replacement struggled so obviously. It is no coincidence, either, that they have kept two clean sheets since his return to the side last week.The emergence of Alex Iwobi and the encouraging performances of Mohamed Elneny have been bright spots for Wenger, but there have been oddities in attack, too. Olivier Giroud has come back into the team ahead of the more impressive Danny Welbeck despite being on the worst barren run of his Arsenal career, while Joel Campbell appears to have fallen out of contention altogether, despite receiving glowing praise from Wenger as recently as January. Olivier Giroud has only scored in one of his last 20 appearances for Arsenal The decisions raise further questions of a manager who has been unable to arrest another alarming slump. Tottenhams recent draw with West Brom all but ensures Arsenal will avoid the doomsday scenario of their arch-rivals winning the title, but they are still likely to fall short of Mauricio Pochettinos men, and the risk of another fourth-placed finish has only intensified the ill-feeling around the club.And so, Wenger finds himself in the spotlight once again. Two months ago, he might have hoped his 750th Premier League game would present an opportunity to move one step closer to his first title in 12 years, but instead he is facing the same old questions over the same old problems. Saturdays protests will go some way to showing the scale of the dissatisfaction at the Emirates Stadium. Watch Arsenal v Norwich live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 5pm on Saturday Also See: Cazorla set for Arsenal return Wenger likely to stay Daniel Jones Jersey . Jay Feely kicked a 41-yard field goal in overtime, and the Cardinals edged the Tennessee Titans 37-34 in overtime after blowing a 17-point lead late in the fourth quarter. Odell Beckham Jr Giants Jersey . "Jeff is a hard worker who was an important special-teams contributor for us last season," said Stamps GM John Hufnagel. http://www.giantsrookiestore.com/Giants-Harry-Carson-Jersey/ . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. Deandre Baker Giants Jersey . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. Darius Slayton Giants Jersey . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. WASHINGTON (2-2) at BALTIMORE (3-1)Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, FoxOPENING LINE -- Ravens by 4RECORD VS. SPREAD -- Redskins 2-2, Ravens 2-1-1SERIES RECORD -- Ravens lead 3-2LAST MEETING -- Redskins beat Ravens 31-28, OT, Dec. 12, 2012LAST WEEK -- Redskins beat Browns 31-20; Ravens lost to Raiders 28-27AP PRO32 RANKING -- Redskins No. 19, Ravens No. 10REDSKINS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (8), RUSH (20T), PASS (5)REDSKINS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (29), RUSH (30), PASS (29)RAVENS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (19T), RUSH (18), PASS (16T)RAVENS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (1), RUSH (5), PASS (3)STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES -- Teams play in stadiums 32 miles apart. ... Only previous meeting between Redskins-Ravens in Baltimore was in 2008. Washingtons last win in Baltimore was in 1955 vs. Colts. ... Redskins QB coach Matt Cavanaugh was Ravens offensive coordinator 1999-2004. ... Washington seeks third straight win. Redskins havent been over .500 after five games since 2011. ... Redskins Jordan Reed ranks first in NFL among TEs with 25 catches, Baltimores Dennis Pitta tied for fourth with 21. ... Redskins QB Kirk Cousins has five 300-yard games in last eight. He has 14 for career, tied for second in franchise history with Joe Theismann. ... Washington WR Pierre Garcon had fivve catches for 83 yards and TD against Baltimore in 2012.dddddddddddd ... Redskins have forced NFL-high 25 fumbles since start of 2015 season. ... Washington seeks to go 2-0 on road for first time since 1999. ... Ravens coach John Harbaugh can pass Brian Billick for most regular-season wins in franchise history with 81. ... Ravens QB Joe Flacco has won seven of last nine vs. NFC. ... Baltimore WR Steve Smith is 15 catches short of 1,000 for his career. He had eight last week. ... Ravens WR Mike Wallace has three TDs in last four games. ... Ravens K Justin Tucker is 11 for 11 on FGs. ... Baltimore RB Terrance West coming off career-best 113-yard rushing performance. ... Ravens top-ranked defense has allowed only eight plays of at least 20 yards, fewest in NFL. ... Ravens LB Terrell Suggs has three sacks in four games and ranks No. 1 in team history with 109 1/2. .... Fantasy Tip: Coming off his best game in NFL, West goes up against second-worst rush defense. Redskins have yielded eight TDs on ground and 133 yards rushing per game.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '
