The good news for Arsenal is that they have plenty of practice in bouncing back.
Over the past decade they have suffered enough setbacks and disappointments to have developed a resilience and, crushing as Wednesday's 3-1 home defeat to AS Monaco in the Uefa Champions League must have been, there is no reason to suppose it will impinge unduly on Sunday's Premier League game against Everton.
Recent form before the Monaco game has taken them to third in the table, but there are four other teams within four points of them.
This is a season in which none of the challengers have shown much in the way of consistent form, something that, if nothing else, means a merry free-for-all for the final two Champions League spots.
What made Wednesday’s result so shocking was that Arsenal had seemed to have found a measure of consistency, winning five of six in the league, although they had lost to a Harry Kane-inspired Tottenham Hotspur two weeks ago.
There was even talk, after the 2-0 win at Manchester City, that they might, finally, have developed some defensive backbone.
In that game, they fielded a midfield trio of Francis Coquelin, Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla, which had sufficient discipline and energy to thwart City.
Against Monaco, though, it was a 4-2-3-1, with Coquelin backed up by Cazorla, a tactical decision that contributed to the general mental laxity to which Arsenal are so prone.
Arsenal had enough chances to win the game, but even those key misses seemed indicative of a pervading sloppiness, and two exceptional finishes from Monaco led to the 3-1 result.
Injuries to Ramsey, Mathieu Flamini, Jack Wilshere and Mikel Arteta meant that Arsene Wenger’s options in midfield were limited, but that hints at wider issues.
Why do Arsenal pick up so many injuries? And why have they developed a squad so skewed towards attacking players that a handful of injuries could damage them so?
Could Tomas Rosicky or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain not have played deep? After all, Monaco’s three-man midfield curtain was marshalled by Fabinho, who is more usually a right-back. Why have Arsenal nobody of such versatility?
But none of that should matter against Everton, who are sputtering through a strange season themselves.
They are through to the last 16 of the Europa League, but they have won just one of their past 10 Premier League games and seem to have little of the vim of last year.
Relegation should not really be a concern, but they are only six points above the drop zone and if their winless run were to extend much longer there may be some anxious glances over the shoulder.
Arsenal have not beaten Everton in five league games (four of them drawn), and Roberto Martinez caused them persistent problems as Wigan Athletic manager, but this looks an ideal opportunity for the London club to get back on track.
Everton’s midfield has lacked cohesion and balance in recent weeks and, with Wednesday’s embarrassment probably acting as a galvanising force for Arsenal, they should be able to impose themselves.
The problem now, though, is that even if they do win handsomely and go on to claim a place in the top four, it just feels like the same old pattern repeating.
A win over Everton, even a third-place finish, does not bring a title win or progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League feel any closer.
sports@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE