Petit says Arsenal display ‘a disgrace’
Petit, who won the Premier League and FA Cup double with Arsenal in 1998, was shocked by some of the individual performances at the San Siro on Wednesday night, and went on to single out Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey for criticism.
“That match was a disgrace,” said Petit. “Arsene Wenger was right when he said it was the worst European performance for a long time. I was left asking myself what had happened to the team that I used to know?
“This situation is worse than I thought, and the slump is continuing week after week. “Perhaps the most worrying thing is that the club won’t do anything to stop this spiral. It makes me wonder about the future.”
Arsenal now enter a critical period of the season, with their last hope of a trophy resting on the FA Cup fifth round tie against Sunderland tomorrow; after that come league matches against Tottenham, Liverpool and Newcastle.
On Wednesday Arsenal fielded their first-choice back four for the first time since the opening day of the season but it was the midfield three in front of them, featuring Ramsey, Mikel Arteta and Alex Song, that struggled to contain Kevin-Prince Boateng and Antonio Nocerino in the Milan midfield.
Petit believes that Arsenal are paying the price of last August’s transfer window, when after selling Fabregas and Nasri, and despite having deals lined up for Santi Cazorla and Juan Mata earlier in the summer, they ended up signing Arteta and Yossi Benayoun on deadline-day.
“When you consider the sloppy and rushed transfer window last summer, I am sad but it doesn’t surprise me,” said Petit.
“Some young players are doing nothing to justify Arsene’s confidence in them. Walcott has reached a plateau, for years now he’s been stuck at the same level. And Ramsey, against Milan, it could have been his brother playing.”
Petit, now an outspoken pundit on French TV, believes Wenger has not been able to properly replace Fabregas and that only a transfer policy based on buying players aged 27 and older, can help Arsenal out of their current malaise.
“What happened before this season was that Arsenal could cover for their lack of physical players with the presence of Fabregas. When he was there, only Barcelona played better football than Arsenal. But now, without Fabregas in midfield, there is nothing and the defence is constantly changing. Lucky for them they have Van Persie up front — but it would be understandable if he wants to leave in the summer.”
“They need five or six players with real status, with big experience, aged 27 or at most, 30; [they should be] players with good technique, obviously, but also a strong character. Guys who refuse to accept defeat, and who can transmit confidence to the rest of the team.”
The older players currently in the squad, Petit told So Foot magazine, should be shown the door.
“You have to send a strong signal out. You’ve got to say to the likes of Arshavin and Rosicky, ‘Thank you chaps, but goodbye.’”
Wenger yesterday bade farewell to Thierry Henry, whose brief loan spell at the club lifted the mood in the dressing-room. He is also expected to be without Per Mertesacker for the rest of the season: the German, 27, underwent ankle surgery this week, and is a popular and vocal member of the squad.
For Petit, though, the situation might have to get worse before it gets better. “For the last two seasons, the team’s performance level has just been getting worse,” he said. “Arsenal used to be a team that competed for trophies, now they are just participants. Arsene needs to find a solution, and fast.”
Meanwhile, former Arsenal full-back Lee Dixon questioned Wenger’s decision to start with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the bench.
“Everything that could go wrong in the game did and it was a really, really poor performance,” Dixon said.
“There are not a lot of positives, to be honest with you. It’ll be difficult for Arsene to pick the players up before a massive FA Cup tie at Sunderland this weekend. He’s got his work cut out.”
Dixon added: “I was surprised Oxlade-Chamberlain wasn’t starting the game.
“He’s been the man in form.
“Yes, he’s a young lad but he’s shown he can handle the big occasions.
“We saw after 60-odd minutes what he can do, and he certainly asked questions of the Milan defence.”
Looking ahead to the return leg at Emirates Stadium, Dixon said: “I don’t think [Arsenal] will keep a clean sheet.
“Milan have got enough about them to score at the Emirates which will make the task impossible. I think it’s beyond them now.”
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