Emmanuel Petit has claimed that the Arsenal players should take a long hard look at themselves.
The Gunners have lost their last two league matches including an embarrassing 4-0 defeat to Liverpool in which we failed to land a single shot on target.
Arsenal players have since come under criticism for their attitude on the pitch, and much of the blame has been shouldered by the manager, but Petit doesn’t believe that should be the case.
The former midfielder said: “When I see them play – and I see them a lot – they seem to play without motivation. The blame is put on Arsene, but I cannot see that it is all down to him. Why should it be?
“Why should a player need motivating to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world, in one of the best stadiums in the world?
“Some of them do not seem to know what it means to wear that Arsenal shirt.
“Their image from last season was that many players looked so disinterested. They get good money to play for a club like Arsenal. Yet, so few of them look happy and motivated. How can that be?
“Maybe they should take a step back and ask themselves what they can give to the club. Not what the club can give to them.
“Someone should sit them down and tell them not to act like babies and kids. They should be proud of wearing that Arsenal shirt.
“No one expects them to win every game. That is not going to happen. But there must be pride in playing for the club. The body language of players puzzles me. Yes, Alexis Sanchez is a warrior. He always plays like that.
“But many of those players do not seem to realise how lucky they are to be at the club. I just want to shake the tree and tell them how fortunate they are to play at a club of Arsenal’s standing. If Arsenal are to achieve anything this season, then the motivation must come back into the team – and the players have to be responsible for that.
“There is only so much the manager can do. But how can these players not motivate themselves to play? How is that possible?
“There will be motivation for some who have the World Cup at the end of the season. But you can not hope to go to a tournament like the World Cup if you are not in good form for your club.
“But that should not be the reason for them to play well. To play for Arsenal should be enough. That is what makes me so very upset.”
Do the players need to start earning the right to wear our famous red shirt? Does Wenger deserve some slack?
Pat J