PLAYERS MUST STOP HIDING BEHIND WENGER

ARSENAL were shambolic against West Brom but their defeat did not surprise me.

Arsene Wenger has been at the club for 20 years and I understand why the players may be getting bored of hearing the same voice.

But there is no excuse for players not pulling their weight. There are too many non-runners in this team.

I have seen it before — there are certain players who are happy to let the manager take the blame when things are going wrong. Wenger (left) has protected these players time and again but they are letting him take the flak. I do think it is time for a change at Arsenal. The players have been brainwashed into thinking that qualifying for the Champions League is enough. I am sure supporters would rather miss out on the top four — as Chelsea did last year — if it meant they would win the league next season.

Arsenal are six points adrift of the top four and are still to face both Manchester clubs and Tottenham. But how many times have we seen Arsenal go on a brilliant run to finish strongly?

I want to see Wenger go out in a blaze of glory, not hounded out in a witch-hunt. With Arsenal still in the FA Cup, there is time for him to do so. The players have to stand up and be counted.