Arsenal players to blame for Wenger's 'sad' exit, claims Mertesacker | OneFootball

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Elliott Bretland·19 September 2018

Arsenal players to blame for Wenger's 'sad' exit, claims Mertesacker

Article image:Arsenal players to blame for Wenger's 'sad' exit, claims Mertesacker

Former Gunners captain Mertesacker believes the Arsenal squad must shoulder the blame for Wenger’s departure from the club.

The Frenchman stood down after the worst finish of his 22-year tenure as Arsenal missed out on Champions League football for a second straight season.


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However, Mertesacker claims the players had ‘many chances’ to get better results and must take responsibility for how Wenger’s Arsenal career came to an end.

Talking of the moment the manager announced he would be leaving, he told Spox: “It was a bit surprising for us. He came into the meeting and said that he had decided together with the bosses to leave at the end of the season.

“It was a sad moment because I had the feeling I contributed my share to it. His farewell was also the players’ fault because we had many chances to get better results. We failed while he backed us all the time.

Article image:Arsenal players to blame for Wenger's 'sad' exit, claims Mertesacker

“I was the first who felt the need to say something and said I deeply regretted it. It was important for him to see that we had something to say as a team and that we stood by his side.”

While sections of the fanbase had called for Wenger to be dismissed in recent years, Mertesacker is adamant Wenger left at the right time and that his resignation did not come too late, adding: “No. Not a second too early or too late. When the news of his departure was finally out, the atmosphere changed,” Mertesacker said.

“It was said what a great man he was, who changed this club extremely. You could not have had more success with this team. He got a deserved farewell and left this club as a legend.”