Emmanuel Petit pulled no punches in his assessment of Arsenal’s decision to hand David Luiz a new contract.
The Brazil defender penned a 12-month deal with the Gunners despite some questionable performances this season.
Petit, who won the Premier League and FA Cup with Arsenal, questioned the club’s approach when it came to transfers.
He told Paddy Power: “David Luiz hasn’t been a proper footballer for about three years. But I’m not surprised that he has been given a new contract at Arsenal, because I’ve been very disappointed in relation to the club’s activity in the transfer market.
“I’ve been particularly upset in relation to the defenders. We all know one of Arsenal’s major weaknesses is their defence and nothing has changed. This makes me miss Arsene Wenger.
“If I was David Luiz, of course I would sign a new deal and I would also say a prayer of thanks to the Arsenal directors every time I wake up. Even when he last won the Premier League with Chelsea, he’s not the same player any more. This guy has lost something.
“To be honest, it’s a joke. Find some proper defenders. Are you telling me there are no young talented defenders on the market? I just don’t get it.”
France World Cup winner Petit did not just stop at Luiz with his criticism and also directed some at those at the boardroom level.
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He said: “Does anyone think the Arsenal executives and directors know what they’re doing on the football side of things?
“For the last few years they have been splashing out on the transfer market – and have brought in some decent players – but I don’t know what their target or project for the future is.
“It’s far worse now than in the last years under Wenger. What is the point of being one of the richest clubs on the planet with no reason or vision behind it?”
Petit also urged striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to leave Arsenal because they are becoming just an average club.
He added: “If I was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, I would leave Arsenal. There is some quality in this team but when you arrive at the club nowadays you want to do great things. But, come on guys, Arsenal is not the same any more. It’s becoming an average club.
“I feel so sorry for the fans and all the people who love the club. I feel sorry for the former players that try to uphold the Arsenal reputation.
“But I don’t feel sorry for the players – I think 75% of them at the club at the moment don’t deserve to wear that shirt. They should look at themselves in the mirror and show some pride.”
