Arsenal legend Alan Smith has strongly hinted that Arsene Wenger doesn’t allow Steve Bould, one of the best defenders to ever don red-and-white, coach at London Colney, which explains a lot…

Arsenal’s defence went from being one of the most water-tight back fours in the Premier League in the 1990s, when Tony Adams was captain, to the leakiest.

Wenger’s defence has been poor for years but this season it’s been shambolic. Not only do the Arsenal players look as if they don’t know how to defend, they look terrified at the notion that they might have to get in the way of a football. It’s bizarre.

Therefore, when Smith recently hinted that Wenger doesn’t allow his assistant coach and former Arsenal defender, Bould, help in training, it’s hardly a surprise.

“You can only do what you’re allowed to do on the training ground,” Smith told the Arsenal Opinion podcast.

“Bould takes some stick off some but they don’t see what goes on Monday to Friday.

“And I just think it is a criminal waste of his talents.

“He’s one of the best defenders the club has ever had and not to use his knowledge, just seems senseless to me.

“He does bits and pieces I think without really going to town on getting hold of that back four they way George Graham did.

“Arsene is still in charge of all the sessions so I do think it is a waste of someone like him because he’s not given that free hand to go out and pass on that great knowledge he’s got.”

Most Gooners often find themselves wondering what Bouldie even does during the week because it ain’t teaching our men how to defend set-pieces, let me tell you.

Wenger has never been a fan of defending. The Frenchman is practically the human embodiment of the phrase: “The best defense is a good offense”. It makes sense that he’s forgotten to teach it and, since he still leads the sessions, no one else pulls him up on it.

He probably hides Bouldie’s car keys so he can never get to the training ground.