Charlie Nicholas has slammed Arsenal and Arsene Wenger for their “penny-counting” ways that have caused the club to lose all ambition.
The former Gunner brutally ripped his club apart on Sky Sports, pointing to their failure to tie up deals for Jack Wilshere, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez along with their lack of Champions League football as worrying signs.
“The modern game is creating such wealth but Arsenal are going in the opposite direction, potentially letting £250m worth of playing talent leave in the summer for nothing,” said Nicholas.
“The same issues have been going on for several seasons and they’re now missing out on Champions League funds because of the apparent penny-counting. The club looks as if it has lost all ambition.”
Nicholas revealed that he thinks the exit of David Dein has seen the club sink, as they now find themselves in a position where the best they can achieve is a top four finish and winning the League Cup.
The Sky Sports pundit suggested that it was time for Wenger to stop being the manager and move into a role on Arsenal’s board.
Nicholas believed that Wenger could smooth the transition as he questioned whether there was anyone “man enough” on the board to pick the next manager.
OPINION
Nicholas didn’t hold back with his criticism and it’s hard to argue with what he has to say. If Arsenal were to lose £250m worth of talent for free in the summer, it would be one of the most epic transfer failures in the history of the Premier League. The Gunners have also had to go without Champions League football and it’s far from certain that they have a squad capable of winning it back for next season. However, Nicholas is a little harsh to underestimate what it would mean to win the League Cup this season. While it isn’t the most glamorous honour, it’s still a trophy at the end of day. It’s also going to be a hard-earn win if Arsenal have to get through the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City to get it.