If Arsenal's heavy defeat to Liverpool did not dent the Gunners' trophy hopes, then a glance at their fixture list will have their fans suffering sleepless nights

The Gunners face Manchester United tonight before big games against Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenahm across three competitions by the end of March.

With Arsenal always expected to implode at any point, is there any hope for Arsene Wenger's side as they enter a crucial period?

To try to answer that, we spoke to The Guardian's David Hytner who believes the doubters are not making Arsenal's life easier.

"The press don't help, the fans don't help. Since the Villa game when they did lose, people have been waiting for them to fail. Wenger joked to us last week and said 'you've been waiting for us to fail since August'. That has been the soundtrack to their season. Clearly that tests you mentally and I think that will be the decisive thing," said Hytner.

He also believes they are better equipped for the challenges to come in comparison to previous seasons.

"I don't think people actually dispute the technical level of their players. I think they are better balanced this season. Obviously I love Van Persie, but I think for the good of the team a big No 9 like Giroud might give a bit more balance."

Hytner also thinks Mikel Arteta is just as effective defensively compared to Mathieu Flamini who is suspended for the Manchester United game.

"I think Arteta is like Michael Carrick at United, really. Because Carrick is technically a deep-sitting midfielder, I think in England we want them to be like Flamini - some snarling pitbull. Whereas I think a Carrick or even an Arteta are good in terms of the way they read the game, positioning and interceptions which are even cleaner than a tackle," said Hytner. 

And of course there is the enigmatic Mesut Ozil who has been getting flak recently. But Hytner does not think that Ozil has been among Arsenal's Top Five players at any point this season, but gave credence to the "Ozil effect".

Hytner spoke to Ozil recently and the German admitted that missing the winter break for the first time in his career was "new to him".

"I think he's feeling it physically, I really do and is that not understandable. Did we not expect that?" said Hytner who also felt the loss of Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey to injury have not helped Ozil in recent weeks.