Arsene Wenger has had his say after Troy Deeney tore into his players (Picture: Getty)

Arsene Wenger has responded to Troy Deeney after the Watford forward accused Arsenal’s first-team stars of lacking ‘cojones’.

The Gunners threw away a one-goal lead to lose 2-1 at the weekend meaning the north London club now trail Manchester City by nine points in the race for the Premier League title.

Deeney came on as a second-half substitute at Vicarage Road and was on the pitch as Tom Cleverley struck the winner for the Hornets in injury time.

After Watford’s win, Deeney told BT Sport: ‘There’s a reason they lost and is wasn’t because of one penalty.

Arsenal were defeated 2-1 at Vicarage Road (Picture: Getty)

‘I have to watch what I say but… having a bit of cojones, I think the word is. Having a bit of nuts.

‘Whenever I play Arsenal and this is just personal, I go up and I think let me whack the first one, let’s see who wants it.

‘I came on today, I jumped up with [Per] Mertesacker, didn’t even have to jump actually, nod it down, the crowd gets up, and they all just backed off.’

Arsene Wenger’s men take on Red Star Belgrade this week (Picture: Getty)

Wenger admitted Deeney’s comments hit a nerve but is confident his players have the character to bounce back from the defeat at Vicarage Road.

Asked if the accusation ‘hurt’, Wenger replied: ‘Yes but I know who my players really are. In the last seven games we had six wins and one draw.

‘Comments are part of the modern game. I love my players and I trust their strength of character to respond.

‘You can’t question our character. People try and put us down, they always have.

‘Those comments aren’t justified.’

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