Gunners' Groundhog Day: Same old issues see Arsenal waste another title shot

"What would you do if you were stuck in one place and every day was exactly the same, and nothing that you did mattered?"

Those are the words of Phil, the protagonist from the film "Groundhog Day," but they might as well be the sentiments of every Arsenal fan after Sunday's insipid performance against Crystal Palace.

Desperate to stay relevant in the title race and remain within striking distance of north London rival Tottenham, Arsenal bossed an inferior Eagles side completely devoid of a midfield only to share the spoils in a 1-1 stalemate.

The mood at the Emirates Stadium was toxic, and rightly so, as Alexis Sanchez's goal on the stroke of halftime was nullified by an ambitious effort from Yannick Bolasie nine minutes from time. Petr Cech should have done better on the shot from distance, but he can hardly be blamed for the Gunners display on a day when the squad limped off the pitch serenaded by a chorus of boos.

Forgive Arsenal supporters if the goal reminded them of Mauro Zarate's forlorn effort on the first day of the season in a 2-0 defeat to West Ham.

Deja vu all over again, and like the lowland critter that sees its shadow and subsequently retreats into its den, ensuring six more weeks of winter, Arsenal fans have seen this play out time and time again.

Arsenal should have won the season this year, instead, it sits fourth, four points ahead of a Manchester United side that's been a baloney version of itself.

"We lacked a change of pace, sharpness, they defended well. We put a lot of effort in but came out with a frustrating result. It is hard to accept, the competition goes on and we focus on the next one," manager Arsene Wenger offered after the match

On to the next one, the famous last words of a man who knows his job would be in jeopardy at any other club, a man who skirts around the issues that plague the club and the consequences they have.

"I don't know how it works mathematically but we are too disappointed to think about the league, we have to think about the Champions League and fight to be in the Champions League."

Nineteen consecutive top-four finishes and coveted Champions League berths have become Wenger's legacy as much as the famed Invincibles campaign of 2003-04, his development of young talents and the introduction of panache plentiful football.

In "Groundhog Day," Bill Murray's character, Phil, works for a fictional television station and is miffed by the prospects of traveling to Punxsutawney, Pa. to cover the annual Groundhog Day festivities. Annoyed and on the verge of acrimony, Phil pays the quaint town a visit against his will and grudgingly gives his report on the event.

The next day, a perpetually annoyed and agitated Phil awakes to find he's trapped in a time loop, destined to live the same day over and over again.

Phil is every Arsenal supporter, who each time they enter the turnstiles at the Emirates or tune in, assume they too are trapped by the confines of time, reliving the same experiences in an interminable footballing nightmare.