Arsenal vs Monaco: Gunners midfield 'couldn't tackle a hot dinner,' says Jamie Redknapp

Arsenal were beaten 3-1 by the French side

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

Arsenal's dysfunctional midfield has attracted the criticism of Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp, with the former Liverpool player claiming they 'couldn't tackle a hot dinner'.

The FA Cup holders' hopes of reaching the quarter-finals were dealt a huge blow after the 3-1 loss to the Ligue 1 side, courtesy of goals from Geoffrey Kondogbia, Dimitar Berbatov and Yannick Ferreira Carrasco.

Redknapp and fellow Sky pundit Graeme Souness were scathing of the lack of leadership in the centre of Arsene Wenger's side, while club legend Thierry Henry was clearly distressed by his former club's plight.

The former Tottenham midfielder said: "Arsenal were off the cuff. I didn’t think (Francis) Coquelin was too bad but he was taken off as he was booked so Arsenal were left with (Santi) Cazorla, a wonderfully gifted attacking player, (Tomas) Rosicky, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

"That midfield couldn’t tackle a hot dinner. Kondogbia was incredible for Monaco, he was exactly the player Arsenal needed to sign."

Meanwhile Souness, who has lifted the European Cup on three occasions, added: '"They were so, so disorganised.

Dimitar Berbatov celebrates his goal against Arsenal (GETTY IMAGES)

"Arsene Wenger keeps trying to create ultimate football, they have all these creative players that want to go forward but all successful teams have contrasting types of players, people who can break up the play and ease up the pressure.

"I’ve said it many times before that Arsenal are too easy to play against, an average European team has blown them away tonight."

After falling behind to a stunning Kondogbia strike in the first-half, long-term transfer target Berbatov then doubled Wenger's woe before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain appeared to give the hosts a glimmer of hope.

That was quickly extinguished, however, as Arsenal were caught on the counter-attack in the closing moments by Ferreira Carrasco's late strike.

The Gunners now have to travel to France in three weeks' time knowing they need to overturn the deficit and score at least three away goals if they are to progress to the next round.