Russian striker Andrey Arshavin has grown "bitter and disappointed" at the number of big games Arsenal are losing, and falling 11 points behind Chelsea makes him "doubt" his team's ability.
"What I feel bitter about is that we lose in all the big matches. That is disappointing and lets doubts creep into my mind. Chelsea are now 11 points ahead of us, although we played one game less. At the moment, they look the strongest team," The Sun quoted Arshavin, as saying.
Arshavin is alarmed that the have lost to both Manchester clubs - as well as the Blues.
Arshavin feels the current squad at the Emirates does not measure up to the one at Carlo Ancelotti's disposal across the capital.
"They have attacking players who can make use of opponents' slightest defensive mistakes. Didier Drogba, for example. If we only take pure strikers, he is the strongest in the world. He and Zlatan Ibrahimovic," he said.
Wenger has been reluctant to spend too much of Arsenal's money in recent transfer windows but Arshavin believes that Wenger must spend big next month to give them any chance.
"Arsene Wenger needs to buy new players - and expensive ones too. Why? Because all the talented and inexpensive players are already with us at Arsenal."
Wenger has challenged his latest generation of young Gunners to follow in the footsteps of Cesc Fabregas and use the Carling Cup as a springboard to the first team.
"The number of kids who have come here and progressed to become top-class players is considerable. And one of the reasons is we have played these youngsters in the Carling Cup," Wenger said.
"This policy has been successful, not necessarily in terms of winning the tournament, but because it's good preparation for the players to play in the Premier League."
