Former Arsenal defenders Martin Keown and Lee Dixon have turned on Arsene Wenger and his players after Wednesday’s humiliating 5-1 Champions League thrashing at Bayern Munich.
Wenger has seen his position as Gunners boss come under fresh scrutiny in recent weeks after back-to-back Premier League defeats damaged his side’s title hopes.
That is nothing new for Wenger, who has increasingly split supporters in the latter stages of his 20-year tenure, but now some of his ex-players have been questioning his longevity.
Wenger’s men were humbled in Munich as Bayern all but assured themselves a spot in the quarterfinals as Arsenal look set for a seventh successive round-of-16 exit.
Arsenal were level at the break after Alexis Sanchez cancelled out Arjen Robben’s opener but Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller scored either side of Thiago’s brace as the Gunners were blown away in the second half.
After the game, Wenger and his squad came in for criticism from former defenders Keown and Dixon. Keown suggested this was the nadir of the 67-year-old Wenger’s reign.
“It’s almost embarrassing — outclassed, outplayed,” Keown told BT Sport.
“This is his lowest point ever. Twenty years and Arsene must be considering his future now. Arsenal were bullied, weren’t they? Completely.“The difference between the two squads, they [Bayern] were men against boys, they were bigger and stronger.”
Former centre-back Keown, who won three Premier League titles under Wenger, added that the result could seal Wenger’s decision not to extend his stay at Arsenal beyond the end of the season, when his current contract expires.
“[Wenger] looked particularly wounded,” Keown said. “I feel for him; he almost needs to be protected from himself. This is 20 years of work here. He’s been magnificent for the club.
This brings forward the change that looks likely at the end of the season. I think it will be him that makes the decision. The realisation that the decision needs to be made is more apparent tonight.”
Dixon, who won two of his four league titles at Arsenal under Wenger’s management echoed Keown’s sentiments on ITV.
“He just seems so low,” the former full-back said. “I think he’s realising that with this team he’s getting no response from them. They’re not doing themselves justice or him.
“That is the first time where I’ve seen him where I’ve thought, ‘he thinks it’s time’. The fact that he hasn’t been able to get a response from the players in the last few weeks might be the final straw.”
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