Misfiring Gunners face tough trip to in-form Everton

While no titles are ever decided before the turn of the year, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger should be concerned at his side's lack of spark in recent weeks ahead of the daunting trip to Everton today.

Wenger was breezy in his dismissal of being knocked off the English Premier League summit on Wednesday, but even he cannot ignore the stark fact that Arsenal are enduring their first slump of the season.

For most clubs, a record of two victories in five league matches would hardly constitute a crisis but it is Arsenal's misfortune that their chief rivals for the league title, Manchester United, are in the sort of merciless mood which ruthlessly capitalizes on even a minor slip.

The heady first three months of the season -- when Arsenal swept aside all-comers with such glorious effervescence -- are now just a distant memory.

The north Londoners have been labored for almost two months now, with United taking over as the Premier League's great entertainers.

Wenger's problem is hardly new. Arsenal are irresistible when given the space and time to fashion their trademark passing patterns, but when confronted with teams intent on squeezing space and flooding midfield, they run out of ideas surprisingly quickly.

A lack of a viable Plan B -- always a concern for Wenger's sides -- remains as pointed as ever, especially when compared to United's multi-purpose line-up.

Having seen their lead at the top of the league snatched away, it is imperative Arsenal do not lose further ground this weekend.

The omens, however, are not good: Arsenal have lost four of their last seven league matches at Goodison Park and the Toffees have only lost one of their last 13 games.

"These are the games that the boys look forward to," Tim Cahill, Everton's Australian midfielder said. "We have got to be going on to the pitch and pitting our wits against the best players in the world and see where we are at."

"At the moment, I really believe we have got a great chance of achieving something great against Arsenal," he said.