Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin has admitted it has been a “crazy” season at the club and the players must take responsibility for the top-four failure.
The Gunners finished fifth in the Premier League table, meaning they failed to qualify for next term’s Champions League.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has come under a lot of criticism this season, but Bellerin thinks the players should take responsibility for his side’s poor form.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: “This year it’s down to us. We weren’t playing at the level required.
“The manager has always been able to compete at the top through the years with different players. He’s won the Premier League. Last year we finished second.
“We’re Arsenal and people want the best from us. Everyone writes us off early and when you don’t win for a couple of games everything is going crazy.
“Sometimes we overthink it. Everyone has ups and downs in football. Look at Chelsea. Last year they didn’t get into Europe, this year they’ve won the league.”
Despite their disappointing league campaign the Gunners have a chance to win their third FA Cup in four seasons on Saturday when they face Chelsea in the final at Wembley.
The 22-year-old was part of Arsenal’s 2015 FA Cup winning side, and he featured for the full 90 minutes as his side ran out 4-0 winners over Aston Villa.
Bellerin has been a mainstay of Wenger’s back line this term and has made 41 appearances in all competitions.
The young Spaniard has made the right-back spot his own since breaking into the first team at the Emirates in 2014, and has played more than 100 league and cup for the North Londoners since then.
He is also a 10-time Spain Under-21s international, and is travelling with the squad to the 2017 European Under-21 Championships this summer.