When Arsene Wenger sits down before the start of next season, he will maintain that the target is to win the Barclays Premier League title.
He does it every year, only his argument becomes less and less convincing each time Manchester United, Manchester City or Chelsea carry off the trophy.
To maintain a serious title challenge, Arsenal’s manager will have to change an awful lot of players.
Envy: Arsenal afforded Premier League champions Manchester United a guard of honour at the Emirates
Tough ask: Arsene Wenger may have to settle for a top four challenge with Arsenal again next season
Put the emotional bond between Wenger and most of his recruits to one side and the brutal reality is that this squad cannot compete at the elite level.
Wojciech Szczesny, Bacary Sagna, Per Mertesacker, Tomas Rosicky, Mikel Arteta, Lukas Podolski and Aaron Ramsey are all good players. But not good enough to win the Premier League.
They were on the pitch for the guard of honour at the Emirates on Sunday, acknowledging United after they won their 13th Premier League title against Aston Villa last Monday. Arsenal are unlikely to walk out to similar acclaim any time soon.
The club are eight or nine first-team players short of winning their first Premier League title since the Invincibles crushed the spirits of Chelsea and United in 2004.
Up to scratch: Arsenal players like Bacary Sagna (above) and Per Mertesacker (below) don't meet the grade
These days a draw at home to the champions is acceptable for Arsenal, the best they can hope for after years of underachievement.
‘This is a good point for us,’ admitted Arsenal’s goalscorer Theo Walcott as he looked at the 21 points that separate them from the champions. In terms of a top-four spot, Walcott was right: it’s all they ever talk about at the Emirates these days.
In the context of their standing in English football, this said it all. At times against United, particularly in a fiercely contested opening half-hour, there was the zip on the ball and bite in the tackle required of a title-winning team.
To last an hour at that level is impressive, but United’s players can keep this tempo going over the course of a nine-month season.
Strength in depth: Wilfried Zaha (left) has joined Manchester United and Robert Lewandowski could join him
In the summer, the top teams — United, City and Chelsea — will all re-arm as they prepare for campaigns at home and abroad.
United intend to strengthen, with Borussia Dortmund’s lethal finisher Robert Lewandowski the primary target for Sir Alex Ferguson. Wilfried Zaha will also be at Ferguson’s disposal when he prepares his squad for the start of his 28th season at Old Trafford.
Then there will be the effect of a new manager at Chelsea, with the probability that Jose Mourinho will leave Real Madrid and return to Stamford Bridge.
Inevitably, the new man will be given money to spend, adding Radamel Falcao and Andre Schurrle to his squad as he prepares to break the Manchester duopoly.
All the activity will take place over the summer as the top teams prepare their title challenge. Sadly, for Arsenal, it will all be about another top-four finish.