Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger plays down fan discontent after banner is unfurled in Hull City clash

You know Arsenal are in full-on crisis mode when their fans get the "Wenger out" banner. Having failed to pick up a win in five games and with it pretty much ending their chances in two of the biggest competitions of the season, it was natural that the fans would vent some of that ire at their manager, who has been there, seen everything and done it all, but remains vulnerable to criticism from the club's supporters.

A large banner that read "Arsene, thanks for the memories but it's time to say goodbye," was unfurled by the away fans – the most loyal of them all -- in the FA Cup match against Hull City at the KC Stadium, and Wenger was expectedly asked about the supporters' discontent.

"There's nothing disappointing for me," Wenger was quoted as saying by The Guardian. "I do my job. Look at the history of the club, since the club exists, and you will see that I have nothing to be scared of.

"I don't care. I do not want to speak about that because it is always the same story. It is enough now. If you have any questions ask other people. Do you know someone who has won it [the FA Cup] more than me?"

Wenger insisted he and the club should be judged only after the season comes to an end. "We judge the season afterwards and I'm quite amazed so many people judge it so early," Wenger added. "We have not given up anywhere and you will see that in the coming weeks. This club has been in a much worse position than it is today."

While that might be true, what Wenger cannot get away from is that Arsenal look, yet again, set for disappointment on the Champions League front, while their English Premier League dreams have faded quite quickly as well, following two defeats and a draw.

When Arsenal needed to step up and show they can handle the pressure, they seemed to go the opposite way and the result of that shrinking away is an eight-point gap to Leicester City, with just nine matches to go in the Premier League season.

Yes, Arsenal are still in the hunt for a third straight FA Cup title after seeing off Hull City in the fifth round replay, but, surely, Wenger's team should be aiming higher, and a season in which they have only won the FA Cup again, if that at all, will and should be deemed as a bit of a disappointing season.

That is when Wenger, himself, and the Arsenal board will have to ask some tough questions. Has the Frenchman taken this club as far as he can take them? Is it time for a change, and if so, is there a proper replacement available?

The last thing Arsenal will want is to struggle like Manchester United, after Sir Alex Ferguson retired. However, that fear should not hold them back from taking the tough decisions, if required, either.