Tony Adams claims Arsene Wenger ‘didn’t teach me anything’ insisting the Arsenal manager should have left in May

The ex-Arsenal captain believes his old manager’s weakness at technical coaching is behind the current team’s plight

'Et tu, Tony?!' (Getty Images)

Tony Adams has claimed Arsene Wenger did not teach him anything and that his former Arsenal boss should have resigned in May.

The former Arsenal captain believes his old manager’s weakness at technical coaching is behind the current team’s plight.

Arsenal have lost two of their opening three games and are already six points off the pace in the Premier League having shipped eight goals.

“What is happening on the pitch at the moment is very sad,” Adams told the Islington Gazette.

“Arsene should have brought someone in to concentrate on the team – as financially they are doing well.

“That’s all you needed. Someone to come in and teach players how to defend.

“Hector Bellerin will be the same player in five years as he is now because he’s not been brought on by Wenger.

“You need someone to come in and teach players like Rob Holding – who can be a very good player – to defend.”

The 50-year-old, now working in a consultancy role for a Chinese investor, says generations of players have passed through Arsenal without being taught the art of defending.

“You can keep going with the names of players,” Adams added.

“Arsene buys them, puts them in – but he doesn’t develop defenders.”

The former defender, who won four league titles and three FA Cups with the club, says Wenger excelled at physical preparation and psychology, but fell down on the technical side.

“For preparation and recovery he was better than anyone,” Adams said.

“As a psychologist – regarding his interaction with his group of players – he was fantastic, second to none.

“But did he teach me anything? No.

“Did he teach me how to defend? No.”