The ex-Gunner is angry that another season is likely to end without silverware and hit out at what he believes to be failing recruitment and youth policies
Ex-Arsenal star Emmanuel Petit has launched a scathing attack on Arsene Wenger, claiming his former manager has let down everyone at the club this season.
The Gunners began the campaign promisingly but will now almost certainly finish it without silverware after falling 11 points behind Premier League leaders Leicester City and being dumped out of the Champions League and FA Cup.
Petit, who won a domestic double at Arsenal in 1998, believes Wenger has failed the club and ought to consider another sport if he cannot win the league during a season in which Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United have all struggled.
“You let down the fans, you let down the club because this year was for us,” Petit said of Wenger on Sky Sports.
“Do you think Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City and Manchester United will do the same next year? Forget it. They will come back strongly. If this year, you cannot compete with Spurs, with all the respect I have for them, and Leicester, then change your sport. I’m sorry.”
The 45-year-old cited Arsenal's overemphasis on developing its own youth as flawed, stating his ex-side have kept faith with too many homegrown players who have peaked and cannot take the club further forward.
“Arsenal’s academy policy is very good, up until a certain point – there is a limit," Petit added. "There are a lot of players coming from the academy who are good but they have failed to improve over the last three or four years.
“This has been a big disappointment for me. Players like Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere are constantly injured and they are not improving. They are good, but not that good, that is why they need something else in the dressing room.”
Instead of hoping for their youth to come good, Petit has urged Arsenal to open their wallets and splash the cash in the transfer market, concluding it is the only way forward for the club if they hope to become successful again.
“You have to bring in experienced players - big names, big characters, players with winning mentality,” he said.
“They need to bring leaders into this team. They have quality, no doubt, they have big players but not enough. They need leaders, big characters and players that hate to be beaten and love to win - not only games but titles.”
“There are only two options for Arsenal. Either they keep on doing what they’re doing, adding experienced players to the youth coming through, or they use the money they have. In the last few years we have seen Arsenal performing well on the pitch but not winning titles, with the exception two FA Cups.
“They fail at the final step every time, at this crucial time of the season. That means they need something to improve the closing stages of the season. That, for me, would be spending the money.
“Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are all spending money on top players to improve their team and results.”
- Goal