As he sat in Goodison Park's press auditorium, however, Wenger looked like a broken man, as he had all afternoon. So often this pioneering Frenchman could be relied upon to come up with the right answers in big games but now he looks to be flailing around in the dark.
A dreadful two months for Wenger reached a crashing new low at Goodison Park, as Everton wrestled the initiative in the race for fourth place with one of the finest footballing performances the home supporters have witnessed since the turn of this century.
Going for four: Romelu Lukaku shows the place he thinks Everton can make after Everton's 3-0 win over Arsenal
Double trouble: Romelu Lukaku and Steve Naismith scored Everton's opening two goals against Arsenal
Over and out: Everton captain Leon Osman goes in for a challenge against Arsenal's Bacary Sagna
Wrong way: Osman signals he's hurt after a tackle for which he received a booking
Blood bin: The midfielder leaves the field bleeding and is replaced by Ross Barkley
Cool and calm: In-form Steven Naismith swoops in on the rebound and slots in Everton's opener
Pounced: Wojciech Szczesny couldn't handle Lukaku's initial shot and it fell perfectly for well-placed Naismith
Get set: Lukaku skips across the top of the Arsenal penalty area before firing off his shot for the second goal
Pull the trigger: The on-loan striker was at an awkward angle but had no trouble with power to make it 2-0
Pierced: Lukaku's strike goes goalward as Naismith, perhaps dubiously, lurks in front of Szczesny
You the man: Lukaku wheels away after the ball rockets into the net for his 16th goal of the season
Tight unit: The goal-scorer runs straight to his manager Roberto Martinez after his 34th-minute strike
That's good son: Fired up boss Martinez and the Chelsea front man share the moment
Wanting: Arsenal players wait for play to restart after the second goal in the 3-0 domination by Everton
Wenger
is proud of leading Arsenal into the Champions League for 16 straight
years but that record is under siege. Everton manager Martinez suggested
in the build-up that whichever side lost here would suffer a 'huge
psychological blow' and that is what Wenger looked to have sustained.
'We did not start too badly but we need to defend much better,' Wenger offered. 'But it is a massive worry to lose a game like this and we have to come back with a different attitude. We have got to get back to basics.'
But can they? Such has been the speed of Arsenal's fall from grace that it has to be asked whether they have the fight to dig in again; in every area of the pitch they were second best, their wretched efforts epitomised by Arteta, the anonymous Olivier Giroud and the hapless Thomas Vermaelen.
Arsenal have had a formidable record coming to Goodison and administered some thrashings down the years. Indeed, they had not lost here since March 2007 but from the moment Leon Osman went close with a dipping half-volley after two minutes, it was clear which way this game would go.
'We did not start too badly but we need to defend much better,' Wenger offered. 'But it is a massive worry to lose a game like this and we have to come back with a different attitude. We have got to get back to basics.'
But can they? Such has been the speed of Arsenal's fall from grace that it has to be asked whether they have the fight to dig in again; in every area of the pitch they were second best, their wretched efforts epitomised by Arteta, the anonymous Olivier Giroud and the hapless Thomas Vermaelen.
Arsenal have had a formidable record coming to Goodison and administered some thrashings down the years. Indeed, they had not lost here since March 2007 but from the moment Leon Osman went close with a dipping half-volley after two minutes, it was clear which way this game would go.
Small margins: Arsenal's Mikel Arteta desperately slides in as Mirallas attempts to shoot from close range
Helpless: Szczesny is in no man's land as the ball flies goal-bound off his defender Arteta
Not their day: Arsenal's defence watch on as Everton's third goal floats bizarrely into the net
I'll take it: Mirallas claims the goal that was eventually awarded as an own goal to Spain's Arteta
Frustration: Arsene Wenger reacts to the carnage on-field from the his seat, where he spent most of the match
Can't look: Wenger puts his head in his hands as his side once again capitulate against top opposition
So many Evertonians stood. From Leighton
Baines, whose exemplary range of passing showed why Martinez believes
he can be transformed into a midfielder like Bayern Munich's Philipp
Lahm, on to Ross Barkley, Mirallas, Naismith and Romelu Lukaku, this was
a collective effort.
The crucial opening goal came in the 15th minute, when Baines threaded a glorious ball into Lukaku. While the Belgian's shot was firm, Wojicech Szczesny managed to parry it but it only went as far as Naismith, who guided the ball into an unguarded net.
Such was the importance of the strike, bedlam erupted in the stands. Goodison is one of the most intimidating grounds in the country when Evertonians get in the mood and from that point, with the bit between their teeth, they refused to let Arsenal settle with the noise they generated.
Feeding off the energy, Everton tore forward at every opportunity. Mirallas was twice denied by Szczesny, while Barkley - on for the injured Osman - also forced the Poland international into action before Lukaku grabbed the decisive second goal.
The crucial opening goal came in the 15th minute, when Baines threaded a glorious ball into Lukaku. While the Belgian's shot was firm, Wojicech Szczesny managed to parry it but it only went as far as Naismith, who guided the ball into an unguarded net.
Such was the importance of the strike, bedlam erupted in the stands. Goodison is one of the most intimidating grounds in the country when Evertonians get in the mood and from that point, with the bit between their teeth, they refused to let Arsenal settle with the noise they generated.
Feeding off the energy, Everton tore forward at every opportunity. Mirallas was twice denied by Szczesny, while Barkley - on for the injured Osman - also forced the Poland international into action before Lukaku grabbed the decisive second goal.
Face-off: Arteta and Leighton Baines have heated words after the Arsenal player accused Barkley of an elbow
Clash: Mirallas steps in to cool the situation down with the game's result already beyond doubt
It
was a cracker, too. Mirallas seized on a ball that was ushered to him
by Naismith and he sent Lukaku, deployed in a position on the right by
Martinez, skipping clear. With Vermaelen and Per Mertesacker backing
off, Lukaku crashed an inexorable drive beyond Szczesny. Game over.
Wenger must have feared a repeat of the 5-1 or 6-0 defeats Liverpool and Chelsea suffered when Mirallas' hunger and drive to get to a loose ball forced Arteta to put through his own net, but there was no solace that Everton stopped at three.
In the far corner of the Bullens Road stand, where the Arsenal fans were sitting, there was little defiance or anger, just a stunned silence, as a campaign that offered them the chance to dream in the New Year is turning into a nightmare.
At the final whistle, Uwe Rosler departed with a spring in his step and a repeat of this abject display at Wembley next week, when Wigan go head-to-head with Arsenal, will mean the club's lack of silverware will reach a 10th year.
Most worryingly for Wenger, any more days as bad as this and Champions League football - which he regards to be a trophy - will disappear, too.
Wenger must have feared a repeat of the 5-1 or 6-0 defeats Liverpool and Chelsea suffered when Mirallas' hunger and drive to get to a loose ball forced Arteta to put through his own net, but there was no solace that Everton stopped at three.
In the far corner of the Bullens Road stand, where the Arsenal fans were sitting, there was little defiance or anger, just a stunned silence, as a campaign that offered them the chance to dream in the New Year is turning into a nightmare.
At the final whistle, Uwe Rosler departed with a spring in his step and a repeat of this abject display at Wembley next week, when Wigan go head-to-head with Arsenal, will mean the club's lack of silverware will reach a 10th year.
Most worryingly for Wenger, any more days as bad as this and Champions League football - which he regards to be a trophy - will disappear, too.
Making amends: Barkley looks to attempt to appease Arteta but the Spaniard remains agitated
Silver lining: Good news for Wenger is the return of Aaron Ramsey, who ended a long stint on the sideline
Return: Ramsey replaced Mathieu Flamini after 66 minutes but the damage had been done
Demolised: (from left) Arteta, Thomas Vermaelen and Szczesny as the score reaches an unsalvageable 3-0
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