Jamie Carragher: Arsenal fans should blame the board, Mesut Ozil and Arsene Wenger, but not Unai Emery

The former Liverpool defender claimed Arsenal's manager 'inherited a shambles'

Jamie Carragher says that Unai Emery is not at fault for Arsenal’s recent lack of form claiming the Spaniard “inherited a shambles” and that the club’s fanbase should instead lay blame to the board, Mesut Ozil and Arsene Wenger.

Arsenal suffered a surprise defeat to West Ham last time out in a drab performance and Emery confirmed that the Gunners would only be able to make loan signings in the January window.

Sven Mislintat is now set to leave Arsenal after his suggestions over potential transfer targets were ignored, with the club’s hierarchy instead pursuing established loan targets such as Denis Suarez and James Rodriguez.

In Carragher’s Telegraph column, the former Liverpool defender said:

“An imbalanced squad, inconsistent star player, extravagant contracts way above market value, a highly-rated international running down his deal, a chief executive on his way out and a head of recruitment who, having made errors in a short period, is on the verge of leaving.”

“Emery has a mess to clean up. Worse still, there is no money available to start that lengthy process. This was not the job advertisement he responded to when Arsène Wenger’s exit was announced.”

Arsenal host Chelsea in a must-win Premier League clash on Saturday having slipped six points adrift of the Blues, where Ozil is in contention to start.

Carragher also reserved criticism for the playmaker, who has made just 16 appearances in all competitions this season.

Ozil is in contention to start against Chelsea on Saturday (Reuters) (Action Images via Reuters)

“Ozil has become a problem,” Carragher continued. ”Emery has tested Ozil on numerous occasions and the reaction can be measured in this season’s appearance record.

“When Ozil has been on the end of a strong decision from Emery – subbed or left out the starting XI – there is a trend of him being unavailable the next game, sometimes through injury and other times for what are described as ‘tactical reasons’.

“With such a powerful, well-paid and popular player who Arsenal tend to win more without – and a player adept at winning support and sympathy from supporters on social media – this has become an untenable situation.”