Former Gunner, Charlie Nicholas, has laid into Nacho Monreal insisting the 31-year-old isn’t Arsenal’s player of the season and you don’t win titles with players like him.

Nicholas might have just opened himself up to a world of trouble after slagging off Arsenal fan favourite, Nacho Monreal.

Although the ex-Gunner describes the 31-year-old as ‘honest’, he doesn’t believe Arsenal can win titles with a player like him.

“No (Monreal is not Arsenal’s player of the season),” Nicholas, who played for Arsenal from 1983-1988, said on Sky Sports.

“I like Monreal but I like him as a left back. I don’t like him in the centre-back position. 

“I think he’s as honest as you get, I think he’s got a nice left foot. He’s obviously a problem for opposition teams in terms of trying to defend against him. 

“Monreal was playing in a back three and back four at certain times and they were awful defensively. He’s part of that, he’s part of that. 

“The same way Ozil’s part of a lack of attacking options or he’s downed tools for a little period of time. 

“Monreal, I love his honesty, I’m very comfortable with Monreal at left back but please not as a centre back. 

“You don’t win titles, you don’t win cups with him, it’s only occasionally you win an FA Cup. 

“For me it’s Ozil, I think he’s responded brilliantly in the last few months.”

I get what Nicholas is saying about the Gunners’ poor defending but Monreal has been one of Arsenal’s most consistent players this season.

While I agree that Mesut Ozil is brilliant and probably has been our best player, Nicholas’ rant about the Spaniard was uncalled for.

monreal palace

Monreal was sidelined with an ankle injury from December 22 until January 20 and during his first match back – Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Crystal Palace – not only did he provide two assists, he scored as well.

More often than not, we can rely on Monreal to dig us out of trouble and put in a solid performance.

Arsenal fans love him since not only is he decent, he also celebrates like a complete mad-man.

I’m not convinced we can’t win the league with him. Why not?

If he’s not making individual mistakes, is helping us score and having strong games, why is he one of the players Nicholas seems to think is holding us back?