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Arsenal legend says Wenger was soft on transfers

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Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has stated that he was sad when both Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie left the North London club and stated that Arsene Wenger was soft to let the attacking pair leave.

The Gunners have seen some of their top players leave for domestic and European rivals over the last decade, with it key that the team’s best stars are retained if the current side are to fight for major honours.

Henry is the Emirates Stadium outfit’s all-time top goalscorer but left Arsenal to join Barcelona.

Van Persie meanwhile was the attacking catalyst for Wenger’s men but was allowed to leave to join Premier League rivals Manchester United.

Wright has admitted that it was hard to watch the striking pair leave North London and has questioned whether Wenger made the correct decision in selling the duo.

“When Thierry (Henry) left and went on with Barcelona to win the Champions League, that was basically saying to the players ‘you’re not going to win the Champions League here’,” the pundit told BBC’s The Premier League Show.

“That made me quite sad when it happened.

“Then for Robin van Persie to go to Man United and score all the goals like he did, they literally won the league with his goals.

“I don’t think they would have won it without it. I think that somewhere along the line Arsene Wenger got really soft on that.”

Arsenal are currently making efforts to renew both Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez’s contracts to tie their best players down to long-term deals.

It is a major fear of all Gunners fans that one or both of these stars will look to join one of Europe’s top teams if major silverware is not delivered in the near future.

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