Mikel Arteta smashes a 90-year-old Arsenal record.

The year is 1930, and Dan Smith is the author of this piece.

So, here's the issue. I like Mikel Arteta and want him to succeed, but how am I supposed to apply Arsenal articles without pointing out that things aren't exactly groovy right now?

I always say that since Arsene Wenger left, we've gone backwards.

It's not a critique of our new manager; it's just a long-held belief that, considering the lack of motivation of the person he worked for, we wouldn't know how good of a job Mr. Wenger did until he left.

"Be careful what you wish for, or you will get it," as the old adage goes.

Long-time readers will recall that this was my position at the time, and nothing has changed my mind since then. The maximum points total we can get in the League, for example, is now 61.

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To put that into context, Mr Wenger's lowest score was 63.

I'm not any less of a fan because I don't expect the Gunners to compete for trophies or compare our manager to Pep Guardiola.

I don't think Arteta was enraged because of VAR, as much as he bemoaned it on Friday night. He usually maintains his composure and calmness after defeats, but that was the most agitated I've ever seen the Spaniard.

Arsenal not being in Europe, he had said the week before, was unimaginable. Was it possible that truth had set in?

Has he noticed that we are 7 points behind 7th with 5 games remaining in the league (even though that spot is enough to qualify for Europe)?

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He'll understand now that we need to win the Europa League to return to the Champions League, and based on our performance against Everton, we'll have to do much better to defeat Villarreal over two legs (and either Roma or Man United in the Final).

I'm hoping his argument that we played well enough to beat both Everton and Fulham was a ruse designed to help the players. When we lost the first North London Derby of the season, he did the same. And if he likes what he sees after seeing our last two performances, we're in deep trouble!

I believe he seemed shell-shocked on Friday because he had just broken an unfavorable record. Perhaps the most positive Gooner would find it difficult to see this as advancement.

We just broke a record that had stood for 90 years......

With Everton's 1-0 victory at the Emirates, we have now lost nine times at home this season, the most since 1930! We only have three games remaining in our stadium, but if we lose one more, we'll take the title outright.

They might argue that the class of 1929/30 had to play two more League home games than the new edition (which they can't because none of them are still alive).

I'll give the players the benefit of the doubt and say it's not a coincidence that we're having our worst home form the year there are no fans inside stadiums, but it's also not an excuse that everybody has had to adjust.