Wenger has the look of a haunted man

Arsenal's situation is clearly getting to Wenger, for so long seen as a calm figure

Arsene Wenger's expression said it all.

Just two Premier League games into the season, he already finds himself under the most intense of pressure with his wafer-thin squad battling in vain to uphold the Frenchman's reputation.

Arsenal's start to the season could not have been any worse and there is very little light at the end of the tunnel for Wenger. Their loss at home to Liverpool on Saturday was the latest huge blow to hit the Gunners and Wenger looked like a man approaching the end of his tether despite the campaign still being in its embryonic stage.

His side face Udinese in the Champions League play-off on Wednesday holding a slender 1-0 advantage and on the evidence of last week's game, Arsenal will have to perform excellently to avoid a shattering exit from Europe's premier competition even before the group stage.

Nothing has gone right recently for Wenger, with captain and star man Cesc Fabregas departing home to Barcelona, a loss in their first home league fixture of the season against Liverpool, the suspensions of three first-team players, injuries to key players and the potential sale of Samir Nasri making this surely the most difficult period of his Arsenal tenure. Add to that Wenger's struggles to find suitable acquisitions in the transfer market and describing the current situation at the Emirates Stadium as a crisis may not be too wide of the mark.

Nasri performed admirably against Liverpool but still looks set to join Manchester City

However, the Frenchman must somehow find some positives out of this as well as work tirelessly to improve his squad to ensure the season does not spiral away from Arsenal.

If they crash out of the Champions League in Italy, it will be nothing short of a disaster for the north Londoners so Wenger must work some of his magic to avoid it.

Progression to the group stages would give his beleaguered squad and fans the lift they all need, while also giving the club a little extra clout in the transfer market before the window slams shut.

Defeat is unthinkable so Wenger must put all the troubles to one side until the hurdle of Udinese is overcome.

Things don't get any easier after that though, with a trip to Old Trafford to face champions Manchester United, so this week could be a defining one in Wenger's reign at Arsenal.

It has started terribly with the Liverpool defeat but two positive results against the Italians and the Red Devils would quickly make things look rosy again.

However, positivity is in short supply at the Emirates Stadium right now with the frailties of Wenger's philosophy laid bare in the loss to the Merseysiders.

Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool scored twice late on to pile more misery on Arsenal

A few injuries and suspensions is all it takes for Arsenal to look distinctly average despite a relatively positive overall performance against Liverpool.

Youngsters like Emmanuel Frimpong, Ignasi Miquel, Carl Jenkinson, Henri Lansbury and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all clearly talented but are under too much pressure to perform immediately.

They have been thrown in at the deep end and Wenger knows he has no chance of finishing in the top four with such an inexperienced group. That is why he needs to spend, quickly.

Frimpong played well against Liverpool, full of enthusiasm, but his lack of experience and composure cost his side when it really mattered with two needless bookings surrendering the match.

Frimpong's red card was the decisive moment for Arsenal against Liverpool

Arsenal looked set to take at least a creditable point from the game before his dismissal and ill-discipline has now cost them in both of their opening Premier League fixtures.

They were already without Gervinho and Alex Song after they were both handed three-game bans for incidents in the game at Newcastle and with their squad so thin, Arsenal cannot afford players to be unavailable when it is avoidable.

Udinese is a crunch game which will set the tone for Arsenal's whole season but their business in the transfer market will be almost as important.

Should Nasri follow Fabregas and Gael Clichy out of the door, there should be at least £60million burning a hole in Wenger's pocket and he must spend it if Arsenal are to so much as challenge for a Champions League place this season.

A left-back, centre-back, central midfielder and creative midfielder must be brought in at the very least.

Clichy needs replacing, as Kieran Gibbs is prone to injuries and lacks the big-time experience to fill the Frenchman's shoes. Wenger missed a trick by losing out on Jose Enrique but he must still address the left-back situation.

Enrique showed Arsenal what they were missing with a man of the match display for Liverpool

Arsenal have some excellent central defenders - something which is often overlooked - with Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou, but they need another one, a player who is not afraid to put his body on the line and kick it long when needed. A defender will not come cheap, but the likes of Gary Cahill, Scott Dann and Ryan Shawcross would be well worth the outlay.

Fabregas and Nasri would then also need replacing but that will be an almost impossible task.

Wenger has seemingly lost out to Chelsea over Juan Mata but there are plenty out there who would improve Arsenal's squad.

Wenger has repeatedly stated he will not bring in anyone who is no better than the players he has - or has had - but he needs to face facts and see that he needs to strengthen his squad regardless.

He cannot afford to let the transfer window close without adding to his squad as the squad in its current state will struggle to make the top six, never mind the top four. Arsenal desperately need some extra bodies or the house that Wenger built may come falling down.

Wojciech Szczesny, Vermaelen, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Gervinho and Robin van Persie are all excellent players but they need help. There is the makings of an excellent team at the Emirates but that is all it will be unless Wenger strengthens.

There are major problems at Arsenal but it would be foolhardy to suggest Wenger should go after all he has achieved for the club.

He must swallow his pride and spend some money now though or the haunted look that has befallen him in recent days may become a permanent fixture.

Barely a week goes by without Arsenal's trophy 'drought' being mentioned, so that needs to be addressed this season to get that monkey off Wenger's back.

Arsenal have not won a trophy since Patrick Vieira lifted the FA Cup in 2005

The title may be out of the question this year but the Carling and FA Cups are realistic aims this season and Wenger should go all out to win them.

Should they win a cup this season, that would give them the confidence to have a real title tilt next year. Wenger still appears to be aiming for the future looking at his recent signings so next season could be a more realistic goal for Arsenal.

That will not sit well with the fans though, who appreciate what Wenger has done for their club but are becoming restless at his stubbornness in the transfer market and with his style of play.

Money must be spent and the style needs to be tweaked.

Wenger's passing style is constantly lauded but it is worthless without any end product.

If he encouraged his side to take shots rather than try to walk the ball into the net they may have a bit more success, with his past title-winning teams the prime examples of that.

The doom merchants are circling at the Emirates Stadium now but this is not a lost cause yet.

It was fitting Liverpool played their part in Arsenal's latest drama as they are the blueprint the Gunners perhaps should follow.

When they sold Fernando Torres for £50million in January, they immediately replaced him with Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll, signings which galvanised the fans, and have followed that up with more high-profile acquisitions this summer.

Suarez was at the heart of Arsenal's downfall on Saturday

Wenger may only have a few days to get his squad up to standard but Liverpool and Kenny Dalglish only had a few hours in January and got the required business done.

A few exciting signings and a couple of good results would quickly turn this 'crisis' around but as things stand, Wenger looks like he is in agony.

This is a critical week in Arsenal's season and it could be over before it has really begun if things go badly.

Wenger needs to somehow turn his frown upside down by bringing in new players, leading his side through the tricky Udinese tie and inspiring his squad.

Anything short of that and Wenger's reputation will be further damaged, perhaps beyond the point of repair.