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Blame Arsenal players - not Arsene Wenger - for Champions League failure, says Thierry Henry

Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry believes the current crop of players and not Arsene Wenger must take responsibility for the club’s failure to reach the Champions League.

The Gunners’ 3-1 victory over Everton on the final day of the season was not enough for them to leapfrog Manchester City or Liverpool, both of whom also won, and claim a top four berth, meaning Arsenal will spend next season playing in the Europa League.

Speaking after the match Wenger admitted that the season-long speculation over his future had contributed to the “horrendous psychological environment” that his team had found themselves trapped in during the early months of 2017.

However Henry believes that his former manager was merely taking the flak for a group of players who failed to live up to expectations.

“What would have helped would be the team playing better and then people would not complain,” Henry told Sky Sports. “It is not down to the boss, the team or the club only, it is down to everybody at the club. If the team were getting results, nobody would have complained and even asked if Wenger was going to stay or not.

“It is not the first time that Wenger has been in that situation where his contract was going to be renewed or not. When I left the club, it was the same thing. Arsene didn't know if he was going to stay. People didn't really call for his head or anything like that or thought that he was disturbing the team.

“I don't think that's why the team didn't perform. The guys came out and said they didn't know where the boss was going to be next year, but that doesn't mean they should play the way they did for a little while. I don't think that is an excuse. At the end of the day, you need to perform no matter what is happening at the club and they didn't. That's the bottom line.”

Speaking after the Everton game Wenger offered praise for his squad’s mental strength to overcome their mental woes and put together a run of eight wins in nine games to end the Premier League season.

He added that he believed that Arsenal should keep “90 per cent” of their squad intact and that with minor quality additions the squad could challenge for the title.