Former Arsenal forward Paul Merson has insisted that the players - and not head coach Arsene Wenger - should take the blame for Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City in the EFL Cup final.

Arsenal struggled to make their mark at Wembley as goals from Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and David Silva won the League Cup for City in routine fashion.

Wenger has again taken the brunt of the criticism following the defeat, but Merson has said that the Gunners players 'let their manager down severely' with another disappointing performance.

"I'm one of Arsene's biggest critics, but I didn't see it as his fault yesterday, it was the players. It does come down to the manager, but he puts the team out there. I know people say the manager is responsible, but the players have got to take part of the blame now, it's not always Arsene Wenger's fault," Merson told talkSPORT.

"He put the team up there to play a cup final at Wembley – it's a big game, their biggest of the season – and I can't blame him for what they did. I really felt for Wenger yesterday, I really felt sorry for him. The players let him down severely, and he's the one who will get the blame again.

"The team isn't good enough. Some of the players just aren't good enough to play for Arsenal. They need a clear out. Five or six of the players who played yesterday should be playing at Everton, or lower. It's all about the players. If you haven't got the best players, you're not winning anything."

Arsenal will again lock horns with City on Thursday night as they welcome Pep Guardiola's side to the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League.