Arsene Wenger has questioned the “morality” of the Premier League after accusing some clubs of already being on the beach.
Wenger needs a miracle to reach the Champions League and is clearly furious that they were given tougher games by some teams who surrendered against top four rivals.
The Gunners boss insinuated West Ham were on “holiday” when they were thrashed by Liverpool on Sunday.
Arsenal lost at Crystal Palace last month and yet Palace shipped five goals at Manchester City ten days ago while West Brom also beat the Gunners only for them to lose to Liverpool less than a month later.
Wenger said: “Yes, we have two leagues. For example, we had to fight very hard at Stoke and Southampton, but some teams once they are safe have a breather which didn’t happen ten years ago.
"The league has changed mentally. Morally it has changed a lot.
“Some teams turn up, some teams are on holiday. It’s very difficult to plan. You just want your team to do well and to focus completely until the last. I think to be professional is to do your job properly until the last second of the season.
“I don’t want to judge that (West Ham). I will explain that another time. We can only influence our own behaviour and take care of ourselves, not judge too much the others. Normally in an ideal world you want to rely on your own results.
“It is vital (to take it to the last day of the season). Just for the fact that we can look in the mirror and say ‘we did it properly.’ That’s for me absolutely vital.
“I work every day not to turn up halfway, [but to] turn up properly and do my job properly. If we don’t have the results, I’m very disappointed. But what is not excusable is not to give your best.”
In spite of the prospect of not reaching the Champions League, Wenger revealed that his future will not be affected by Arsenal finishing outside of the top four.
In one of the clearest public indications that he will stay, Wenger says the club’s leadership and transfer plans will not change even if they miss out for the first time in his 20 year reign.
He is expected to sign a new deal after the end of the season with Arsenal refusing to give up on pipping Liverpool or Manchester City to a place in the top four before they face Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley.
The Gunners boss insists it will not be a “disaster” if they miss out while they are also on course to get more points and have already scored more goals and got more wins than last season.
Wenger said: “I believe finishing outside the top four will not have any influence on the way the club will be led and how we will behave in the transfer market.
“It will be frustrating if we don’t get in. I still think we just have to give our best to get to 75 points and if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. At least we have done our job well to the end.
“I started the season to win the Premier League and when you don’t do it, you’re never completely satisfied, like everybody else. But as well, it’s not disastrous.
“I think what’s encouraging is the way the team develops recently and the way the ambition of the team is back. Overall I think it’s difficult to get points in this league, it’s difficult for everybody.
“I would say we would be a victim of a lack of consistency that we have shown through the season. Overall, that is in a very short spell where we have paid for it.
"We are a victim of nobody. If we make 75 points, we can only be beaten by one point.”
Wenger also made it clear he is thinking about next season with his transfer planning but he fears that both Manchester clubs and Chelsea will spend big this summer.
“Man United will bounce back well next season,” said Wenger. “They will buy players. It is very tight with Man City. They will buy again. That is part of the modern challenge now, to find the players who will strengthen the team.
“To buy doesn’t necessarily mean success. There is a shortage of top level players. There are some big teams in Europe who have big players but they do not need to sell them.”