One-time Arsenal great Robert Pires believes Arsenal's current woes are down to the club's lack of English stars.
Pires, who is currently plying his trade in Spain with Primera Liga outfit Villarreal, joined Arsenal in 2000 and enjoyed a stellar career during a six-year stint in north London.
Alongside Pires as he won two Premier League titles and three FA Cup successes, were the likes of Englishmen Martin Keown, Tony Adams, David Seaman and Ashley Cole.Arsenal currently only have two English stars in their ranks - Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere. It's a situation that, according to Pires, Arsenal have to change if they are to challenge for silverware again."What Arsenal lack now is English players, that is very important," he said."When I arrived there were a lot of English players and that is why we won. You need to have a mix in the dressing room.
"What I see now when I look at the club from outside is that they lack that mix. "They only have two English players in the squad." Pires also took time out to explain the principal reason for his Arsenal exit in 2006, the year when Jens Lehmann was sent off early in the Champions League final against Barcelona, forcing the Frenchman to be sacrificed for substitute goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.
"My biggest disappointment was playing only 18 minutes in the Champions League final. "Wenger killed me when he took me off. For that reason, I could not stay at Arsenal and I moved to Villarreal.
"The final was played in Paris. All of my family was there and I really suffered. We lost the game so that night was very tough."
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