Frank Lampard has accused Arsenal of failing to sign the right players for a fight following their 2-1 defeat to Watford.
The Gunners took the lead through Per Mertasacker at Vicarage Road on the weekend before conceding a penalty and capitulating.
Troy Deeney netted from the spot before Tom Cleverley secured all three points for the home side as Arsenal slipped to sixth in the Premier League.
After the game Watford striker Deeney claimed the Gunners lack the "cojones" for a fight, and Lampard is in full agreement with his comment.
Writing in his column for the Evening Standard, the former Chelsea midfielder brought attention to the fact that Arsenal used to boast such players as Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit.
However, despite clearly crying out for players in a similar mould, have failed to sign midfield powerhouses year after year.
"It is impossible to win every week at the highest level without those physical attributes in the spine of the team. They have lacked that for far too long," wrote Lampard.
"We all like to see great football, but when the going gets tough, there will be certain players you want to stand up to the challenge.
"Arsenal have consistently bought the same type of player when they have been crying out for centre-halves and midfielders who meet that challenge.
Lampard added: "The problem is, if it's not in you as a player or as a squad, that toughness, that resilience, is quite hard to fake every time."