Per Mertesacker has thrown out a warning shot to his team-mates who may not get more chances for Arsenal thanks to dismal display.
The Gunners lost to Nottingham Forest at the weekend to give up their chance to win a fourth FA Cup in only five seasons, losing 4-2 to the lower league side.
The retiring German defender has now warned those players who were awarded a chance to prove their worth to the manager in the match that they may no longer get time on the pitch this term, with only the latter stages of the Carabao Cup, the Premier League and the Europa League left to compete for.
‘The players who didn’t play a lot recently, no one justified their selection,’ he said.
‘In the first half, we played “in the park” a little bit-we were not precise, especially in the final third. Second half, there was a little bit more spirit from ourselves but they out-battled us.
‘It is difficult to take because for those players who played it was probably their last chance to show up and show the manager that they are ready to play more games. It is not the case anymore.’
The German went onto slam those who featured during the match, claiming they didn’t look like they really wanted to win it.
Mertesacker added: ‘We wanted the FA Cup, we had to defend it. You couldn’t see that we really wanted to defend it. This round is always the toughest. You face a championship side, away, you need to be ready and for the majority of the game we were not.’
A mass exodus is claimed to be on the cards this month, but could that be tied to the disgraceful displays of many at the weekend? Is Mertesacker right to slam the players even though some of the younger players may not quite be deserving of such criticisms?
Pat J
He’s one to talk.but true enough
Anyway coquelin to valencia for 9.7 with three and a half years left…what next ozil for nothi…OH
..santi and le COQ was a great combo
Would have taken that 14 mill for elneny in summer.
So far this window has been an actual toilet.
Our talisman and our only pitbull going
No its great! It means now a proper CDM will be brought to replace Coquelin and soon Xhaka will be on the bench. As for El Neny he is a loyal soldier but the lad is bang average as well. Hopefully he shall be on his way too soon. Rejoice Muffdiver…we have started burning the deadwood!
Does it really mean that ???
Think hes had enough chances.
It truly must. However, it may also mean Wenger is trying to create space for Konstantinos Mavropanos…
Creating space by Selling a DM for a centreback?
It depends who Wenger buys because it will be his decision – nobody else’s.
Eleney rejected a move to Leicester in the summer
But a good thing is hes very hardworking player which some players are lacking
Yes, those sideways and back passes are something to behold.
I can’t believe how stupid you guys are blaming the players for the sideways passing, it’s wenger’s style of useless possession! All the arsenal players do it except Sanchez and lacazette so why only blame elneny? It’s obvious that our aweful sideways passing is a tactical issue and not the players ability
So $ancash is leaving and the price is around half of what we could have gotten if we sold him earlier. Considering his toxic performance, he should really have been sold earlier. Wenger is getting older and his lack of foresight is clearly evident.
Alexis’ performances have mainly been very good. Along with Mesut and Jack he’s a class player who has a burning desire to WIN. When he sees others not putting in the same effort he does I admit he goes a bit crazy – and why not? This upsets the rest of the mediocre darlings who make up the rest of the team and so maybe the dressing room does not have the best atmosphere. So what? Wenger won’t tell anyone they’re useless. He does not criticise their many mistakes. So who will? The result is that the dross all go on their merry way collecting their pay packets while doing nothing to actually earn them. Pathetic. No wonder Alexis wants out – he’s probably looking to play for a proper manager.
The rest aren’t performing – true. The manager isn’t doing his job – true. $ancash’s performances have MAINLY been very good? Are you sure about this season? $ancash is performing to his usual level? That’s totally not true at all. This season he’s been below par, and it’s not just his form or performance, but his attitude as well. His can’t-be-bothered-to-play, the I-want-out-now kind of attitude. Shows a lot about his professionalism and commitment – take a look at Coutinho before you take a side on $ancash. I agree Arsenal needs a change, starting from the manager. But I don’t agree to siding $ancash’s stinky attitude.
Whilst I agree with many of the comments about Sanchez the uncomfortable truth is that he is the joint top scorer. If he has achieved this operating, and I do not dispute this, mainly in third gear what does this say about some other players and what does it say about Wenger allowing this situation to get to this point.
Sorry, off topic again. According to the Daily Cannon, since season 2008/09 of the top seven clubs in the Premier League ie Man City, Man United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal and Everton, Arsenal have been awarded the least amount of penalties and have conceded the most, referee bias or coincidence? What do you think?
I think it is simply that Wenger’s players are the least cynical and the least street wise. The most naive in fact. Also the Emirates is a ground at which refs. set out to prove they are not homers – which they would not dare at certain other grounds.
Well I think it’s highly possible that the players are like that because of Wenger. Wenger seems like those prim and proper kind of coach who’s only thinking about playing his nice game of possession football and couldn’t care less about any little fanciful tricks up his sleeves. Pros and cons. Difference between trying to create a perfect football match and surviving the league winning trophies.
Even if it’s true, there’s nothing we can do. If we are clinical enough to score 5 goals, the ref may give controversial penalty every match at 90th minute and we can still win the game. To challenge refs’ integrity isn’t gonna work because they have none anyway.
We are not playing in the conference to score five goals evry game.FACTS: refereesi england are rubbish.and who will now give us back our tow points dropped against west brom Mike Riley??!!
But what can you do about it? The team has to perform so that we don’t get too affected when refs make controversial decisions against us. Such decisions will only affect us if we are only aiming to scrape out a win or hold on for a draw for each and every game.
Kenny, Still peddling this old red herring again, I see.
Jon, it’s an argument I believe in like your’s with Wenger and I’m sure you’d admit, it’s still getting a response, however I do think the apology from Mike Riley on behalf of Mike Dean’s incompetence is a bit patronising and a bit late
What I’d like to say Jon is I except the words crooked and cheating are inappropriate but I feel the word bias is more a probability.
Good to hear, Kenny and that downgrading to “bias” is a start. We both , plus the football world and his dog, agree that Dean is a crap ref and has given us a right handful of awful decisions. But our club is not alone with him. Rather like Wenger, incompetant yes, but corrupt -at least in the sense of Kroenke and Gazidis- NO . I do think though that in the refs body and Riley, though, there is , just like Wenger, an antipathy to change something that has been proved not fit for purpose. Actual corruption is a difficult charge to prove, sometimes even with hardened criminals, if they are cunning enough and know how to cover their tracks. BTW, CORRUPTION can be and often is , LEGAL. Kroenke , in law is not a criminal, at least not as far as I know. But he is deeply morally corrupt, as is Gazidis in the same way. “Merely” morally corrupt people are often more dangerous then actual criminals, since many of them are clever and cunning people who are also ruthless in pursuit of money and power., whereas hardened crims are usually just low IQ. POWER IS WENGERS PERSONAL DRUG.
I’m glad Mert won at least 3 FA Cups with us to add to his World Cup trophy win.
Im feeling better about getting Evans if we do. He is a solid, experienced defender and Leicester has shown that you can build a Premier League winning defense without breaking the bank. £70 million for Van Dijk is just ridiculous (though Wenger not getting Van Dijk from Celtic for a fraction of that is just as ridiculous).
We need to spend big “bucks” on replacements for Alexis, Ozil and new CMs -sell Xhaka and Walcott too.
But first sell Wenger and Kroenke.
With them at the helm, we ain’t going nowhere…..innit
Can you use the 3 billion of yours and buy the club from Kroneke then we can change a new manager and sign 25 world class players
Leicester achieved what they did (and I absolutely applaud them for it) because they were very well coached, played to their strengths with determination and commitment and had a strong team ethic. Somebody is now going to post “so what happened the next season then”? Exactly ! Think about it.
Mert was the worst player on the pitch that day. His absence caused hugh gaps that put tremendous pressure on others. His non organization for the free kick resulted in a goal. Poor pass resulted in another goal. And poor work ethic caused panic in the defense. His statement is a case of trying to deflect criticism from himself.
Damn our squad has no value at all
It certainly won’t have if Alexis, Mesut and Jack leave. The rest of the classless nobodies will soon have us in the relegation zone.
P.S. Just to clarify – I am NOT referring to the young players, just the older ‘established’ ones who have proved for ages that they are not fit to wear the Arsenal shirt.
Per was very poor against Forest. Was surprised he finished the game. Imagine being bullied by a 18 year old pooooh!
‘A wasted chance’ no sh*t Sherlock! What an idiot! I hope to god I don’t see you in an Arsenal top tomorrow night (along with Walcott & Iwobi) Useless
Mertesacker has some nerve.He is a very fortunate man to be earning a fortune with the blessing of his Manager for contributing absolutely nothing to the Arsenal cause.I hope his position as a novice coach is put under close scrutiny next season
Not bad Per, no wonder he get the job at Arsenal after retirement, its your fault we lost this game .
I am still wondering how he become our captain?
what a looser