Arsene Wenger has bigger problems to worry about than Arsenal's 'cojones'

Troy Deeney’s criticism of Arsenal was surprising.

The Watford striker said what many other players around the Premier League have articulated in private.

It was brave of the 29-year-old to question the "cojones" of fellow professionals in public.

Something else Deeney said should worry Arsene Wenger even more.

He talked about being less talented than the players at the Emirates but being willing "to do all the ugly stuff you [Arsenal] don’t want to do."

It is not a matter of ballsiness. It is a problem of entitlement.

Wenger has built a squad that lack work ethic. They seem surprised, and a bit aggrieved, when challenged.

Watching Arsenal, Steve Nicol’s comments on the underachieving Manchester United sides of the 1980s come to mind.

The former Liverpool star damned United, saying: "They had the mentality of a 10-year-old who imagines what being a professional footballer is like.

"They wanted the rewards but were not prepared to put in the hard work to get them."

Wenger’s team have a similar aversion to graft. Arsenal do not have a problem with balls.

They look great in possession of one. They just don’t put in enough effort when the opposition are determined to take their ball away.