We're eight games into the new Premier League season and it looks to be a case of same old Arsenal.

They say madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results; so it has been in the early days of Arsene Wenger's latest two-year contract, with his side sitting sixth having already suffered three defeats.

On Saturday, Per Mertesacker put them ahead before a Troy Deeney penalty and an injury-time Tom Cleverley strike robbed them of the points.

Admittedly, Watford's spot-kick was a little questionable, but the major talking point since the final whistle has been Deeney's comments about Wenger's men.

Speaking to BT Sport, the striker accused them of lacking 'cojones'. Now, the 29-year-old isn't the first to make that point and he won't be the last either.

It's refreshing to hear a player speak with such honesty, however, and his views have since been echoed by Frank Lampard.

In the Chelsea legend's Evening Standard column, he has hit the nail on the head with a scathing critique of Arsenal's players.

Worryingly, it seems this isn't just a problem with the current crop of players.

Arsenal lack fight 

"I was surprised by Troy Deeney speaking so openly about Arsenal’s deficiencies, but not by what he actually said," Lampard explained.

"People have discussed Arsenal’s lack of backbone, the type of players in their squad and whether they can take on a battle for a long time - and nothing has changed.

"We all like to see great football, but when the going gets tough, there will be certain players you want to stand up to the challenge.

"Troy’s comments should annoy the players. If I was them, I would be angry that those comments are out there and that so many people agree with it. But they can’t just have a reaction against Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League on Thursday. It has to be every week.

"The problem is, if it’s not in you as a player or as a squad, that toughness, that resilience, is quite hard to fake every time."

Arsenal have a great opportunity to bounce back against Everton, whose own season has been far from plain sailing. Regardless of the result, Arsenal need to start showing some fight if they're to be taken at all seriously as top four contenders.

What do you make of Arsenal's mentality? Have your say in the comments.