West Bromwich's Jerome Thomas says standards have dropped at Arsenal

27 September 2010 14:45
Arsenal are now going backwards under Arsene Wenger, according to West Bromwich hero Jerome Thomas. [LNB]Thomas made three appearances as a youngster at Arsenal but helped the Baggies to a 3-2 victory at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, scoring and providing an assist.[LNB]He left the club six years ago and and believes that Wenger's current side are nowhere near as good as the 'Invincibles' of 2003-4. [LNB] Gunned down: Former Arsenal youngster Jerome Thomas wasn't impressed with the side he faced at the Emirates on Saturday[LNB]Thomas said: 'In front of me there was Pires, Ljungberg, Vieira, Begkamp and Henry. No disrespect to the Arsenal team now, but the standard is not as high - and that's why a lot of the youngsters are getting their chance now.[LNB]'We won the FA Youth Cup when I was at Arsenal, and a lot of those players have moved on and done well - people like Jermaine Pennant , Steve Sidwell and David Bentley .[LNB]'I don't think it was a case of English lads getting fewer chances than foreign lads here, it was more a case of who was playing ahead of us in the first team at the time.[LNB]'I would like to think I would have had more of a chance when I was here, but you can't dwell on that. I chose to leave, there are no regrets and I don't hold any bad feeling towards them.'[LNB] Manuel Almunia dropped... but Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists it's due to injury Partizan skipper Mladen Krstajic tells Arsenal: Our Gravediggers will seal your Champions League fate We'll frighten Arsenal! Partizan Belgrade boss promises red hot reception for Gunners ARSENAL FC

Source: Daily_Mail