Wenger accuses the teams outside top six of a ‘holiday mentality’

Arsène Wenger has questioned the morality of the Premier League and accused some clubs outside the top six of lacking professionalism and losing focus once they were safe from relegation.

“Some teams turn up, some teams are on holiday,” he said. “We had to fight very hard at Stoke and Southampton, but some teams once they are safe have a breather, which didn’t happen 10 years ago. The league has changed mentally. Morally, it has changed a lot. If we don’t have the results, I’m very disappointed, but what is not excusable is not to give your best.”

No individual clubs were mentioned but Wenger made his comments less than 24 hours after West Ham United lost limply 4-0 against Liverpool in a match that probably ended Arsenal’s hopes of Champions League qualification.

Wenger is perhaps also aware of how Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion produced arguably their best performances of the season against Arsenal before defeats by Manchester City and Liverpool.

Arsenal need City or Liverpool to slip up this week to have any chance of maintaining Wenger’s record of 20 straight top-four finishes. City play West Brom and Watford while Liverpool face Middlesbrough; three opponents whose seasons are largely settled.

Wenger did also stress that Arsenal were a “victim of a lack of consistency” and had themselves to blame. He specifically refused to judge West Ham’s defeat against Liverpool. “It looks at the end of the season that many teams who have been assured to stay in the league have just released their focus,” he said. “I think to be professional is to do your job properly until the last second of the season. It is vital. Just for the fact that we can look in the mirror and say, ‘We did it properly’.”

Wenger believes the entire top six improved this season and does not think it will necessarily be “disastrous” if Arsenal finish outside the top four.

They could still accumulate 75 points – four more than when they finished second last year – and win the FA Cup. Wenger does not expect Arsenal’s transfer planning – or his own future – to be influenced by their league position and the club expect to announce the signing of left-back Sead Kolasinac on a free transfer from Schalke on July 1.

Wenger is unsure whether Laurent Koscielny (calf ) and Alexis Sánchez (thigh) will start tonight against Sunderland. Alex Oxladechamberlain (hamstring) will not play again in the Premier League this season but does still have an “80-20” chance of playing in the FA Cup final against Chelsea.