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BBC pundit believes players have given up on Wenger

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Alan Shearer believes the Arsenal players have let down Arsene Wenger following their latest defeat.

The Gunners lost 3-1 to West Brom yesterday afternoon at the Hawthorns and making it their fifth defeat in seven matches and out of the Premier League title race. It has also piled even more pressure on Wenger, whose future at the club still remains uncertain.

Speaking on Match of the Day, Shearer said Wenger’s side were bullied by Tony Pulis’ men, and insists, giving their latest showing, that the Arsenal players are no longer giving it their all for their manager:

“There has been a lot of chat about Arsene Wenger’s future. There hasn’t been a lot spoken from his players. But his players spoke today in that game.

“Judging by that performance and other recent performances, they don’t want him in that job.

“Arsene Wenger would have looked at his players today and asked for a reaction. They lacked heart, they lacked fight, they lacked direction. Every player other than Alexis Sanchez was pretty embarrassing.

“West Brom bullied Arsenal all over the park. They were much better in every position and deserve a lot of credit for doing that.”

Having watched the game yesterday, in some degree, I agree with Shearer’s views on the matter. Firstly, yes, they were bullied by West Brom – our players can’t handle physical teams, and it’s been like this for several years now. Secondly, yes, the players did look disinterested and looked to have given up on the manager, not Wenger himself, but more the Frenchman’s tactics and system. The players look like they aren’t comfortable with it anymore and, to an extent, bored of it.

A lot of blame has been put of Wenger and yes some should be put on the players for underperforming. However, ultimately, it is down to Wenger to instil passion and motivation in his players and he simply not doing this – you can see it on the pitch.

Both Wenger and his squad need to seriously take a hard look at themselves in the mirror and question whether they have it in them anymore because it is simply not good enough at the moment and something needs to change.

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