Arsenal legend blasts Arsene Wenger for playing Alex Iwobi against Chelsea after 3am party

IAN WRIGHT has accused Arsene Wenger of lacking "leadership" by taking a weak stance over 3am party-goer Alex Iwobi.

The young midfielder was caught on a video dancing and screaming at a flat in Soho, allegedly at 2.37am the day before Arsenal's 4-2 FA Cup loss at Nottingham Forest.

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Iwobi, 21, played in that game - and was also selected for Wednesday's goalless Carabao Cup semi-final first leg with Chelsea.

Wright was furious, insisting Wenger's decisions send the wrong message to players and only serve to make the club a 'joke'.

He told : "In the current climate, for a young player to go out and do that with Arsenal going through what they’re going through now...

"Experienced players wanting to leave, there’s no leadership — Arsene Wenger should have made a better stance on this.

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"A stronger stance.

"Because Arsenal have got to find what we are losing at the moment. People laugh at us — they see it as a bit of a joke with what’s going on at the moment — players don’t want to be there.

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"It just feels like we are losing control."

Iwobi was selected ahead of Theo Walcott, for instance, and Wright said: "What’s it saying to Theo?

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"He’s got a youngster that’s gone out less than 48 hours before the game, still plays in that game, plays in this game and you can’t get a game in front of him.

"You’ve got to start thinking about your own future."

SunSport columnist Wrighty insists players should know what is acceptable and what is not — all stemming from the manager.

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He added: "I think (Jose) Mourinho wouldn’t have that. I don’t think a Man United player would (go out 48 hours before a game).

"I remember when we were playing in that great Man United era, you hardly read about their players doing stuff like that.

"You’re hearing about Alex Ferguson going around to people’s houses and throwing them out. They just didn’t do it."