Although Arsene Wenger is copping a fair portion of the criticism surrounding Arsenal’s 2-1 loss to Dinamo Zagreb, Charlie Nicholas believes the players are largely to blame.

The former Gunner acknowledged that the whole Arsenal team under-performed, switched off and were ultimately not at the races in their first Champions League fixture of the new season.

Wenger made a triple substitution in the second half to try and correct our shortcomings but it was too late and we could only claw back a single goal. However, it’s unfair to place the whole blame at the Frenchman’s door when our players were well below par on the night.

Arsenal's players react following a second goal by Dinamo, during the UEFA Champions League Group F football match between GNK Dinamo Zagreb and Arsenal FC at Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb on September 16, 2015. AFP PHOTO / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC
Arsenal’s players react following a second goal by Dinamo, during the UEFA Champions League Group F football match between GNK Dinamo Zagreb and Arsenal FC at Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb on September 16, 2015. AFP PHOTO / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC

“It was really, really poor,” the ex-Arsenal player said. “There were six changes and although that’s a bit over the top for me, I still think it should have been enough to get a win, never mind a point.

“After 20 minutes I thought it was going nice and easy, but then I started to worry around that period of the game when Arteta and Santi Cazorla slowed it down and a leisurely, horrible slowness crept into their play. All of a sudden they were punished.”

Nicholas continued, “There’s nobody left to blame but themselves. For the first goal, Debuchy pushed in too deep when he didn’t need to and Oxlade-Chamberlain switched off. The second goal was an absolute shocker in the second half.

“Maybe six changes is a bit over the top and people think Wenger is arrogant or is taking it easier than he should, but these players have got so much trust and belief from their manager.

“Every time they fail the manager will get caned because of the changes he made. Some of these players don’t turn up when they are given an opportunity, so why should he trust them as much as he does?

Arsenal's French forward Olivier Giroud (L) leaves the pitch after receiving the second yellow car during the UEFA Champions League Group F football match between GNK Dinamo Zagreb and Arsenal FC at Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb on September 16, 2015. AFP PHOTO / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC
Arsenal’s French forward Olivier Giroud (L) leaves the pitch after receiving the second yellow car during the UEFA Champions League Group F football match between GNK Dinamo Zagreb and Arsenal FC at Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb on September 16, 2015. AFP PHOTO / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC

The pundit added finally, “They are responsible at the end of the day for their performance. It’s not tactics, commitment or anything like that. You are a better player than them, so perform – and they don’t perform.”

Nicholas is right. It’s easy to blame the manager but the players are the ones out there on the pitch and they have to do better. Wenger made the changes and stood on the touch line shouting at his team for most of the match.

Although it could be argued that the team should have remained unchanged from the one that started against Stoke, or that the subs should have come sooner, the team the boss put out should have still won or at least looked as if they could be bothered.