The 2014/15 season has been a strange one for Arsenal and their supporters. Whilst many predicted a title challenge in the summer, the Gunners face a second half of the season battling for that final Champions League place instead after a disappointing opening half of the campaign.

Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool in many ways summed up their season so far. Poor defending, an inability to hang onto a winning position, with a few moments of trademark brilliant passing football – namely Olivier Giroud’s sixth strike of the season to make it 1-2.

Things may well have been different had the French striker not missed three months of the season with an injury sustained in the 2-2 draw with Everton in August, but in his absence simply not enough players have stepped up.

Wenger is under pressure to spend in order to rectify the problems in January, but with a favourable Champions League draw against Monaco and the experience of finishing in the top four year in year out, it could yet be a season to remember for the Gunners.

If that is to be the case, players will have to make a marked improvement over the second half of the season – especially the five we have identified here who have let the supporters down over the 2014-15 season so far.
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Click on Arsene Wenger to reveal 5 Arsenal stars who’ve LET DOWN Gunners fans in 2014/15.

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Per Mertesacker

After an excellent 2013/14 season, the form of Per Mertesacker this term has been a major disappointment. The German has not had it easy given Arsenal’s injury crisis in defence and the fact he has had a different makeshift centre back partner almost every week.

But Mertesacker’s leadership skills seem to have all but vanished, whilst his height makes it all the more baffling whilst Arsenal have such an inability to defend set pieces – with the last minute goal conceded at Anfield on Sunday a prime example.

Mikel Arteta 

Arteta was rumoured to be returning to Spain in the summer and his performances for the Gunners so far this season have done little to suggest the club made the right decision in keeping him.

The Spaniard was exposed too often in the big games last season and it has been the same case this time around. He looks a yard off the pace and has struggled to dictate games with his passing skills in the way in which he used to.

At 32, you feel his days in an Arsenal shirt are numbered – even if he does take a good penalty!

Aaron Ramsey

Prior to his performance against Galatasary – which included a contender for goal of the season – Ramsey has struggled to recapture the form he produced last season.

His goals were a key part of the Gunners title challenge during the first half of last season and they have dried up somewhat this term.

His fitness remains a real issue as well, with the Welsh midfielder having been sidelined again following his heroics in Turkey.

At his best, Ramsey can be the difference to this Arsenal side so it is frustrating with all connected with the club that he has not been able to reach the standards everyone knows he is capable of in the heart of the midfield.

Mathieu Flamini 

The French midfielder often displays good passion for the cause but his performance level has not been up to scratch this term. The blame can be partly put on Arsene Wenger who failed to sign a top class holding midfielder in the summer.

Flamini is not the all-action midfield enforcer Arsenal are in desperate need of; his recent performance in the defeat at Stoke is proof of that. He has been unable to command a struggling midfield whilst often conceding too many fouls and picking up silly cautions.

It is crucial Wenger invests in a top class defensive midfielder in January to turn the Gunners season around as Flamini is clearly not the answer for the present or the long-term.

Mesut Ozil 

Arsene Wenger boldly predicted last season that Mesut Ozil would be one of the stars of the 2014/15 season. His World Cup winning campaign with Germany had Arsenal fans hoping the confidence picked up in Brazil would be transferred to his Arsenal performances but it has been much of what we witnessed over the second half of last season from the 25-year-old.

Ozil has not made any impact in the games he has played and is ruled out until the New Year with injury – by which time he could have moved to Bayern Munich if some reports are to be believed.

For £42.5 million, Arsenal fans are entitled to expect a hell of a lot better.