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Piers Morgan 'hurt' after Arsenal legend Bob Wilson questions his support for the Gunners and labels him a 'pompous individual'

Morgan repeated his calls for Arsene Wenger to be sacked following the 3-1 defeat to Monaco on Wednesday

Jack de Menezes

Thursday 26 February 2015 17:08 GMT

Bob Wilson alongside Arsene Wenger, and Piers Morgan (Getty Images)

Arsenal legend Bob Wilson has blasted Arsenal supporter Piers Morgan for his relentless criticism of manager Arsene Wenger and has labelled the former chat show host an "incredibly pompous individual".

Wenger watched on from the Emirates Stadium dugout on Wednesday night as his side crashed to an embarrassing 3-1 defeat to Monaco in the Champions League last-16 first leg. The result, which means Arsenal must score at least three unanswered goals in Monaco in three weeks’ time, has been described as one of the Gunners’ worst result in Europe since the Frenchman took the reins at the club in 1996.

However, speaking on radio station TalkSport, former Arsenal player Wilson hit out at Morgan and questioned his validity as a fan given his continuous criticism of Wenger.

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

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1/24Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

David Ospina - 6/10

Diffiicult to overly criticise him for Monaco’s opener. Kondogbia’s shot took a wicked deflection that left him with no chance. Pulled off a good save to prevent Berbatov scoring a third.

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Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Hector Bellerin - 5

Not his best game in an Arsenal shirt. When he did go forward he lost possession and Martial, who he was meant to be marking, too often beat the right-back to the byline. Good run and cross

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Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Per Mertesacker - 4

Unfortunate for Kondogbia’s shot to deflect off him before flying past Ospina. Was at fault for Monaco’s second goal. He allowed Martial too much space - the French winger passed to Berbatov who scored. He was very poor all night. His lack of pace constantly exposed.

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Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Laurent Koscielny - 6

Didn’t have to do much to register a better performance than Mertesacker. He was effectively Arsenal’s rock when the German defender wandered into positions he wasn’t quick enough to return from.

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Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Kieran Gibbs - 6

Arsenal’s most dangerous player in the opening minutes of the match. Toure, at right-back for Monaco, found it very difficult to keep up with the rapid left-back.

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Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Francis Coquelin - 6

Alongside Cazorla in the two deep midfield roles again. He was a little exposed when the Spaniard decided to charge forward but the French midfielder never looked troubled. Substituted for Oxlade-Chamberlain in second as Arsenal chased the game.

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Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Santi Cazorla - 6

Took advantage of space in the middle to surge forward from his role of deep-lying playmaker. Stifled in the second half as the opposition read what he was going to do effectively.

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Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Mesut Ozil - 5

Too slow to progress play. The German midfielder was booed by the Arsenal on a night where he really should have done much more to unlock the Monaco defence.

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Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Alexis Sanchez - 6

Struggled to get forward as much as he usually likes. In the first half he seemed frustrated that all of the play was going down the left flank totally cutting him out on the right. Made much more of an impact in the second half as Arsenal chased the game.

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Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Danny Welbeck - 6

Very sharp in the first half but failed to carry out his defensive duties well enough. Indeed it was Welbeck who gave the ball away that led to Monaco’s opener. Caught out a few times in the second half.

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Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Olivier Giroud - 4

Missed a very, very easy chance from close range in the second half. Posed relatively little threat to the Monaco defence. He was subbed for Walcott on 59 minutes.

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Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Best off the bencj: Alex Oxlade Chamberlain - 7

Immediate impact when he came on for Coquelin with 20 minutes to go. It was his late strike that gave his given his side a glimmer of hope going into the second leg.

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Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Danijel Subasic - 7

Outstanding performance from the goalkeeper. His quick thinking helped his side stay in the lead on a number of occasions. Very quick to close down Walcott in second half. Distribution very good too.

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Almamy Toure - 6

In the first half he found himself overrun by Gibbs but was given some respite in the second half as Arsenal attacked Monaco’s left side.

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Wallace - 6

A very assured performance. He frustrated Giroud while also organising his defence with precision.

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Aymen Abdennour - 6

Allowed the Arsenal attack to bypass him too often. He seemed to panic when the French striker got anywhere near the Monaco penalty area.

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Elderson - 6

Playing at left-back, the Brazilian found himself out of position on so many occasions. For most of the night he was either dallying with the ball too far into the Arsenal half or chasing the heels of Welbeck.

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Nabil Dirar - 6

Not as effective as Martial on the left but seemed confident when in control of the ball and always looked forward for the out ball.

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Geoffrey Kondogbia - 8

Monaco’s best player. Along with Moutinho he was involved in almost all of his side’s attacks. It was his strike in the first half that took the lead for Monaco. Physically he is strong and was effective when confronted with challenges from Coquelin.

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Fabinho - 7

Integral part of the midfield three that also included Moutinho and Kondogbia. He knew his role well and did nothing to endanger his defence behind him.

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Joao Moutinho - 7

One of Monaco’s brighter players. He regularly dropped deep in midfield to start attacking moves. Assisted Kondogbia for Monaco’s opener.

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Anthony Martial - 7

Utilised his pace effectively on the left side of the Monaco attack. He took advantage of Mertesacker’s bad positioning to assist Berbatov for his side’s second goal.

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Dimitar Berbatov - 7

Booed by the Arsenal fans because of his former connection with Spurs, but he was to have the last laugh when he smashed past Ospina in the Arsenal goal to send Monaco 2-0 up

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco - 7

What an impact he made when he replaced Berbatov with 15 minutes remaining. His pace, coupled with quick thinking, gave Gibbs hell at left-back. Ferreira-Carrasco added Monaco's third in stoppage time.

“I would like to say this about Piers Morgan," Wilson said on the Hawksbee and Jacobs show, with the latter being replaced by Sam Delaney this afternoon. "He claims to be an Arsenal fan, but if you’re a supporter of a club you have to be through thick, thin, laughter, smiles and tears. He has never been a proper fan.

Arsene Wenger pictured during Arsenal's defeat to Monaco (GETTY IMAGES)

"I see him on Twitter and he drives me mad. He’s an incredibly pompous individual and he has no understanding of what it is to be the manager of a football club. I can only tell you this about Arsene, and I am biased to a degree, but i’m not stupidly biased. You will not find any manager ever, more dedicated to doing his job than Arsene.

"With him it's always about the man before the player and that’s very rare for a manager. His first concern is about you as an individual rather than you as a player. Always has been and always will be.

"He’s been there for a long time with incredible glory times, league titles, appeared in a Champions League and FA Cup finals. He's changed the club totally.

"Above all that thought he’s a really decent human being, who cares."

However, Morgan was quick to pick up on Wilson’s comments, and admitted that questioning his commitment to the club “hurt”.

Morgan, former editor of the Daily Mirror and TV presenter on CNN, wrote on Twitter: “Sad to hear @BobWilsonBWSC's comments. I may not be a 'proper fan' but I have 4 season tickets, own 10 shares & watch every game. #afc

“I've no problem with @BobWilsonBWSC calling me pompous. I probably am. But the 'not a proper fan' charge annoys me.

Morgan was scathing in his criticism of Wenger

“My support for @arsenal is absolute. My support for individual managers or players is subject to their form & performance. #afc

“I love @Arsenal with a passion. Disagree me over players/manager etc. But NEVER doubt my devotion to the Club. That hurts. #afc”

Morgan was at his most scathing on Wednesday night as Arsenal left themselves a mountain to climb if they are to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Should they fail at the Stade Louis II in three weeks' time, it will be the fifth consecutive campaign that has seen the Gunners eliminated in the last-16.

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