Former Montpellier and Marseille coach Rolland Courbis has taken a swipe at Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker, explaining he does not see how the German warrants a spot in the club's defence.
Mertesacker made a number of mistakes last night as Monaco sprung a surprise 3-1 defeat on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie.
The Ligue 1 side were comfortable winners on the night and their victory leaves Arsenal's Champions League hopes hanging by a thread.
For Courbis, the presence of Mertesacker in the Arsenal defence is something he cannot understand.
He told French radio station RMC: "When we see Mertesacker on the pitch, if this is saying that he is the best solution for the [defensive] strength of Arsenal, I just don't get it.
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"He is the captain? You can even make him a general and it would not change anything", Courbis added.
Mertesacker retired from international football last summer in order to concentrate on club football with Arsenal, but has been accused in some quarters of not being up to speed at the highest level.
A number of French media outlets were scathing in their assessment of his performance against Monaco, with one, Maxifoot, awarding him a score of two out of ten.
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