Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has hit out at Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil and believes their contract situations have hampered the club.
The Gunners had to settle for fifth place in the Premier League this season, missing out on the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.
Arsenal's cause was not helped by the uncertainty over the futures of their star duo, with talks over contract extensions stalling during the campaign.
It remains to be seen if Sanchez or Ozil will leave the Emirates this summer but Keown believes the duo are at the heart of the club's problems.
He labelled the Chilean a "difficult man to manage" and hit out at Ozil's body language.
"It became about Ozil and Sanchez for too long in the season. I think their behaviour let Arsenal down in that period," said Keown, speaking for BT Sport.
"Ozil wasn't available for large periods. Was he injured, wasn't he? Was it sickness, was it injury? He didn't seem to be around when they needed him most.
"Sanchez then had an incident at the club. It felt like he threw his toys out of the cot for a little while. We don't really know exactly what happened.
"You can't say that by taking these two out Arsenal are going to get better but if they don't want to be there then the club has to look forward and has to build."
Keown also tipped Arsene Wenger to sign a new deal and stay on at the Emirates.
"Perhaps the biggest gift he can give Arsenal is to help them find his replacement," Keown said.
"He should help to find his replacement but stay on in the meantime. If he goes now we could be nearly into June before the new man is coming in.
"But it's a great platform to build on after what he's created at the club. He would leave the club in an incredible position."