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Mertesacker: Arsenal players to blame for 'sad' end to Wenger's reign

Shaun Botterill / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Per Mertesacker believes Arsenal players ultimately cost Arsene Wenger his job.

The French manager ended his 22-year association with Arsenal in May following a campaign in which the Premier League side recorded its worst finish under his guidance, placing sixth and missing out on Champions League football for a second straight season.

Mertesacker, who retired after the 2017-18 campaign and was named head of Arsenal's academy, revealed Wenger's decision to leave came as a surprise when it was announced in April. The former Gunners captain insists players were responsible for the "sad" conclusion to the 68-year-old's time in north London.

"It was a bit surprising for us. He came into the meeting and said that he had decided together with the bosses to leave at the end of the season," Mertesacker said in an interview with German website Spox, as translated by ESPN FC's Mattias Karen.

"It was a sad moment because I had the feeling I contributed my share to it. His farewell was also the players' fault because we had many chances to get better results. We failed while he backed us all the time. I was the first who felt the need to say something and said I deeply regretted it. It was important for him to see that we had something to say as a team and that we stood by his side."

Mertesacker rejected the suggestion that Wenger overstayed his welcome at the club following years of failing to rediscover the success that hoisted him to legend status during his first decade in charge.

"No. Not a second too early or too late. When the news of his departure was finally out, the atmosphere changed," Mertesacker said.

"It was said what a great man he was, who changed this club extremely. You could not have had more success with this team. He got a deserved farewell and left this club as a legend."

After more than two decades at Arsenal, Wenger recently revealed he's enjoying his time away from football, but indicated he hasn't ruled out a return in the future.

"I decided not to decide," he said in an August interview, according to The Guardian. "I was intoxicated for such a long time that I promised myself not to make any decisions before September. (It’s going) even better than I thought. When you have been as busy as I have been, you always fear a little emptiness."

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