It's been a familiar tale for Arsenal this season. A strong start is followed by a collapse at some point and an early exit from the Champions League at the round of 16 stage before the fans start calling for the manager's head, ad nauseam.

Nobody is surprised by it anymore, and those watching from the stands are left wishing that somebody else will come in and oust Arsene Wenger from his position to breathe new life into them.

However, Robert Pires believes there was one moment this term that turned everything on its head for the Gunners, and goes a long way to explaining why they're struggling to find enough form to propel them into the Champions League places.

Pires, who has now retired but retains close links to the club, was a part of the 'invincibles' team of 2004, and knows a few things about keeping momentum going.

But he claims that the capitulation they've suffered this time around is more to do with missing one player than anything else, and points to losing midfielder Santi Cazorla as their biggest undoing.

The Spanish international had been in influential form before suffering an injury two months into the new season, and he has remained sidelined throughout.

With him missing and Jack Wilshere out on loan at Bournemouth, Arsenal's midfield has looked distinctly lightweight and have often struggled to contain opposing sides.

"We miss Santi Cazorla. He was injured in December and from then until now, Arsenal are not really the same," he said, as per the Metro.

But not only that, Pires also thinks that the club could do with a stronger core of British players, believing that will help turn the club's fortunes.

"We need character, we need leaders," he added.

"We have [Mesut] Ozil, [Alexis] Sanchez, Laurent Koscielny. Koscielny is a very good captain but we maybe need some English players, the likes of Tony Adams, Martin Keown and Lee Dixon."

Arsenal have presently lost four of their past five games in the league, though their hopes of turning things around won't be any easier this weekend as they welcome Manchester City to the Emirates.