Arsenal fans have forgotten what it is to be a competitive club - their fear of life after Arsene Wenger only proves it 

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Arsenal's protests off the pitch reflected the team on it – looked potentially strong early on, but fizzled out and ended up flat and mediocre.

Only a fool would conclude such embarrassing protests mean Arsene Wenger is currently approved by all Gooners.

The only conclusion is that Arsenal have become a club that has forgotten how to win the title, and how to run as a competitive football club on the pitch. 

A few Arsenal fans hold up A4 signs calling for change, but they were met with a larger counter-protest

The protests, though drowned out, show that the club haslost sight of how to engage with fans

Most significantly the club has completely lost sight of how to engage with fans. Sure the players can post all sorts of fluff and nonsense on social media – Alexis Sanchez with his dogs, Aaron Ramsey playing golf. But the distance between club and fans is massive.

High ticket prices mean some people have pursued a business opportunity. Hoovering up lots of seats and selling them to different people on matchdays, which in turn dilutes the atmosphere. 

The disenchanted fans have stopped going – hence the seats sold figure having as much in common with the number of seats occupied, as Arsenal have with being Champions League winners. 

And it doesn't take a professor to work out that the protests were affected by that atmosphere. I was surprised there were so many holding up pre-printed A4 sheets of paper to be honest.

The protest reflected the team in the Premier League title race – token impact.

I've never been a believer in protests during games – I've consistently said that on air. And Arsenal on Saturday was no different.

The distance between the club and its fans is growing bigger and bigger as the years go on

Look at the circumstances: Saturday's game was not the moment, especially given the situation the opponents are in. Norwich spend a fraction of what Arsenal spend, receive half the gate money the Gunners get, and are a yo-yo club scrapping for survival right now.

For Arsenal fans to protest at a game against Norwich is like being in a foodbank moaning about the absence of caviar.

We might complain about our rubbish bins not being collected regularly, but we wouldn't stand on a soapbox in the middle of the Nyanga township in Cape Town and do it.

The inability for even the fans to protest properly was mainly down to one thing. They have no idea who they're giving the message to. These fans are not stupid – they know Arsene Wenger will always cling on until the end of his massive contract, he's never going to sack himself.

Arsenal fans don't know whether to be frustrated with Wenger or owner Stan Kroenke and the board

And this brings us to the big issue at Arsenal. The fans discomfort revolves around the fear of the unknown, the fear of life beyond Wenger. 

As it stands unless there is a massive change next season Wenger will leave the club – if indeed he goes at the end of his contract in 2017 – as also-rans in England, who never get to the quarter-finals in the Champions League. 

In other words, he won't be leaving the club in a strong position, and there absolutely won't be any kind of winning mentality when it comes to the serious trophies – that disappeared long ago. 

The next manager faces the massive job of changing the culture of a club happy with a top 4 finish, that's the first hurdle, before he then begins to think about challenging the top clubs at home and abroad for honours. 

Can Arsenal fans be confident Kroenke (left) has the knowledge to employ a suitable replacement?

The longer it goes on, the harder the job for the next manager, and the weaker Wenger's legacy becomes. Which is actually sad considering what he achieved in his first eight years.

So who is there at the club who would have the courage to tell Arsene Wenger to move on, and then face the responsibility of appointing the right replacement? Sir Chips Keswick? Stan Kroenke? Alisher Usmanov? Ivan Gazidis? Can any Arsenal fan say with any confidence that these people are knowledgeable enough to make those decisions? No wonder fans are uncomfortable.

It's a worry for Arsenal Football Club. Those who love Wenger have every right to hold that view – if they're happy not being taken seriously for the two biggest trophies in the game right now that's up to them. But at some point they will have to let go of that Wenger comfort blanket they're currently dribbling into.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger looks on during the Premier League match between against Norwich City

And then what?

If Arsene Wenger really loves Arsenal as much as he says he does, if he cares that much, and if the club means more than the massive contract, then he will take charge of this situation and ensure the right successor is ready to take over when he goes. 

That would be a legacy that would go some way to make up for the lost seasons since 2004. He wouldn't want Arsenal to struggle as Manchester United have done surely? Not unless it was designed to make him look good, which surely wouldn't be his aim.

3 years ago Wenger said: 'You will miss me when I'm gone.' In the absence of anyone else who knows football at Arsenal FC, it's up to Wenger to make sure that's not the case. But I see no evidence of Wenger grooming a capable successor right now though.