At the end of a fruitless five days Mikel Arteta’s frustration was obvious and understandable.
It was aimed firstly at referee Chris Kavanagh, confronted at full-time after another game in which Arsenal had grounds for complaint about the decisions.
But also, and rightly, at his team too.
Because from two trips to the Midlands, 23 attempts and large periods of dominance at Molineux and Villa Park have produced just six efforts on target, one goal and zero points.
Arteta declared that both games highlighted failings that teams who want to challenge for the Champions League simply cannot display – being too prone to costly defensive errors and lacking ruthlessness in attack.