Arsenal legend Paul Merson has ripped Mikel Arteta to shreds after a shoddy defeat at the hands of Liverpool on Saturday.
The Reds thrashed the Gunners 3-0 at the Emirates in a result that leaves them 10th in the Premier League.
It means any chance of landing a European spot this season got to the point of almost impossible.
Arsenal take on Slavia Prague tonight in the Europa League, which they must win if they want to stand any chance of playing in the Champions League next season.
But it has been a disappointing campaign for the Gunners, one that legendary midfielder Merson has been left shocked by.
He told Sky Sports: “As I said before the Liverpool game, all the eggs have gone into the Europa League basket for Arsenal and it's as simple as that.
"They've taken that chance now to be completely and utterly judged on five more football matches, however, what I watched against Liverpool the other day was as bad as I've ever seen.
"I can't remember Arsenal ever being like that!
"People will say about the times under Unai Emery and at the end of Arsene Wenger's reign, but I never saw anything like that.
"All I saw was rolling the ball back to the goalkeeper and he just lumped it down the field."
Arsenal are on course for their worst finish in the Premier League since 1995 when they ended the year 12th and Merson insisted Arteta and Jose Mourinho are not too far off - without the trophies.
He added: "When they get beat and he comes out and takes the blame, he's just doing the opposite to what Jose Mourinho does when he criticises his player, but Arteta is thinking exactly the same as Mourinho.
"Mourinho just says it and the difference is one manager has been around for a long time and he's won everything in the game.
"He can just say it exactly as it is whereas Arteta is just starting out and he's got to say the right things in front of the camera.
"However, when the camera is away, he'll be thinking exactly the same as Mourinho.
"That wasn't good enough from Arsenal against Liverpool. It was as bad as it gets, and Arteta will know it."
