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When Arsenal moved away from the hallowed turf of Highbury to the swanky new Emirates Stadium in 2006, the long-term goal was to rebuild the team so they could eventually compete with other clubs who had virtually unlimited resources to win.
Arsene Wenger was tasked with the impossible and he stuck around for another decade to ensure the Gunners always managed to compete, if not win.
The supporters were aware of the status quo and the one thing that brought them back to the stadium in droves despite high ticket prices was the beautiful football on display. A top-four spot and Champions League football were virtually guaranteed every season no matter the personnel.
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All that was soon taken for granted. And now, out of the top four for what could be two consecutive seasons, the Gunners hardly play any inspiring football to give their fans any sort of satisfaction.
The atmosphere at the Emirates has certainly changed in recent years. What was once a dark cloud with a silver lining soon became a raging storm of dissent over not only Wenger's outdated policies but also the board's inaction.
It was a board that saw the experienced old guard ousted and replaced with newcomers, many of whom were relatively inexperienced; subservient to Wenger's all-encompassing reach at the club, happy to hide from criticism behind his seemingly bullet-proof jacket, comfortable with the lack of tough decision-making as long as the revenues streamed in - even if trophies did not.
That same storm of anger and fury from the fans has since subsided to a shrug of resignation as they have come to realise that nothing they say can effect change. The club's annual meetings with shareholders and fan groups have yielded numerous questions with no clear answers or vision from the hierarchy.
And with an absent majority stakeholder who sees the club as nothing more than a cash cow, that resignation is understandable.
But ultimately, it is all about performances on the pitch and that is where Arsenal have been found wanting in the past couple of seasons. Turning up for six FA Cup games a year is not what Wenger himself envisioned and the vast array of empty seats at the Emirates - increasing in number every few games - only serve to remind him of what could have been.
Also read: Arsene Wenger - Building Arsenal's future while still stuck in the past
Will Wenger step down?
Walking away from the game is arguably the toughest decision to make for a player or manager. Wenger now faces that dilemma as Arsenal teeter on the brink of either pushing forward and reclaiming that coveted top four spot or slip into mid-table mediocrity.
The Frenchman is 68 but has shown no signs of looking forward to retirement. In fact, a point he repeatedly makes is that retirement "frightens" him. Of course, nobody is asking Wenger to walk away from the game. Yet.
But there are plenty who have vented their frustrations on social media - especially that one popular fan TV channel which only serves to alienate a divided fan base while simultaneously becoming a beacon of ridicule for the rival fans.
To many, the opportune moment for him to walk away was when the Gunners won two FA Cups on the trot in 2014 and 2015. The trophy drought was over and his frugality had helped usher in an era of financial stability that would allow them to compete.
The warning signs came when they failed to win the league title when every other 'top six clubs' struggled. Leicester City won it all but Wenger really should have seized the initiative that season when the rest of the clubs were in rebuilding mode.
Instead, a last-minute winner over Leicester at home proved to be the catalyst for the Foxes to win the league. The post-match victory celebrations "made them laugh", according to Leonardo Ulloa in FourFourTwo. "I can say they helped us keep focused and concentrated."
The 2016/17 season saw Arsenal miss out on Champions League qualification for the first time in Wenger's reign. This season, they are now 30 points adrift of the Premier League leaders and 10 points away from a top-four spot with only 10 games to go.
What next?
Arsenal have taken steps to limit damage during eventual transition
On their part, the Arsenal board have finally taken decisions in recent months to make things easier for the next manager. Chief Executive Ivan Gazidis has already brought in 'All-Stars' from other clubs to help Wenger with off-field activities which are their area of expertise.
Sven Mislintat arrived from Borussia Dortmund to take up the role of Chief Scout and he has already made himself useful by bringing Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to the Emirates.
Raul Sanllehi left Barcelona where he was Director of Football. Although no such position exists at Arsenal, he is their new Head of Football Relations; a man with a huge network of contacts and someone who will work hard on getting transfers over the line.
The business done during the 2018 January transfer window came as a breath of fresh air at a club that had been stagnating and drifting for years. Deadwood players (and another star player who had threatened to poison the atmosphere in the dressing room) were discarded, replaced by players who could potentially be world-class - in the right circumstances.
But in the end, there is only one question that remains unanswered: what next for Wenger?
Will Wenger be asked to leave?
"I am here for 21 years and turned down the whole world to respect my contract." - Arsene Wenger
If there is one thing Wenger is proud of is that he always honours his contracts. Despite interest from foreign clubs over the past two decades during his time in north London - be it Real Madrid or PSG - Wenger has always insisted that he has resisted the temptation to move to a bigger club.
That is not entirely true. There is a valid reason why he has rejected their advances and stayed in north London.
It is the freedom he enjoys at Arsenal; free of the shackles that bind managers at other clubs - be it nosy presidents or boards who differ in their philosophy. At Arsenal, Wenger has been allowed to shape it in his own image while keeping the club's traditions intact.
Unfortunately, it is that same image that is now falling apart. When the time comes, it will be up to Gazidis to take the call. Because Wenger will not take it himself.
"My position is my position. Honestly, it is the last worry I have at the moment." - Wenger on his future
A fallen legacy
When Manchester City comfortably (and predictably) beat Arsenal twice in the same week - in the League Cup final and the Premier League - it was a moment of reflection for the veteran manager.
Wenger sat in his chair, resigned, not even bothering to make a substitution over the 90 minutes in the midweek clash. The Gunners had been outclassed in every aspect by a Pep Guardiola team that now play the kind of football that Wenger's sides were remembered for.
The only difference? The Manchester City boss had taken it to the next level - the trophy-winning level.
Forget second gear; even when they played in neutral at 3-0 up, Arsenal simply had no answer. Neither did Wenger as the seats around him emptied while the away fans broke into song chanting, "One Arsene Wenger!" to twist the knife between the ribs.
This is now what remains of Wenger's legacy. Eroded of class, torn apart by constant scrutiny, and the target for justified criticism.
If he does the honourable thing and walks away now knowing full well that he can no longer carry this talented bunch of players who play such insipid football, he may still retain that modicum of respect that he deserves for what he has achieved at Arsenal.
But despite the Invincibles and the numerous trophies, people will still remember him for the manner in which he held on to the hot seat for too long when he should have let go.
"He knows my admiration of him. He knows the club, his players and I’m sure he’ll take the right decision for everyone." - Pep Guardiola
If he carries on like he has the past two seasons and sees out his contract, the Emirates Stadium will soon be nothing but a forlorn, hollow shell with resounding boos replaced by a deathly silence; a reminder of the tragedy that has extended into one too many acts.
And nobody would shed a tear.
