Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain claims Arsenal players have not been giving their all in recent weeks
Gunners midfielder laid the blame for dreadful recent away days with under-performing stars - and looked happier than anyone after securing 2-1 victory at Middlesbrough
ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN sensationally claimed Arsenal players have not been giving their all.
Yesterday's 2-1 win at Middlesbrough eased the pressure on Arsene Wenger and saw the Gunners pick up their first away win in FIVE Premier League games.
Hector Bellerin was booed by his own fans in last week's 3-0 humiliation at Crystal Palace as a result of the Gunners' dreadful form on the road.
Oxlade-Chamberlain laid the blame at his and his team-mates' feet.
And the 23-year-old looked more relieved than anyone at the final whistle against Boro.
He confessed: "What we’ve done previously has not been good enough.
“It’s a massive honour to play for Arsenal and you have to give it 100 per cent, week in week out.
“Maybe that had been slipping. That was the first thing we needed and the three points were massive.”
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It took drastic measures to ensure those three points were picked up.
Wenger, 67, reverted to a back three for the first time in 20 years as Arsenal boss.
Goals from contract rebels Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil saved the Frenchman's skin.
Wenger said: "It is the first time in 20 years [playing three at the back] – that shows you that even at my age you can change.
“Sometimes when your team lacks confidence, something new helps them believe and focus.
“The fact we conceded three at West Brom and three at Palace, I feel it was needed.
“I felt we were recently a bit vulnerable defensively.
“I wanted a bit more reassurance to the team.
“It worked well in the first half. We were solid.
“In the second half one or two times we could have been more dominant in the air.”
Last night's win moves Arsenal above Everton into sixth.
But they remain seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, albeit with a game in hand.
When asked whether their Champions League hopes would have died had they not won at the Riverside, Wenger replied: "Yes. Mathematically it is still possible now, even if it is difficult, but we will give it a go.
“The clarity is there - we have to win every game to have a chance of getting in the top four.
“When you don’t win confidence goes quickly and comes back slowly.
“I felt there was nervousness there in the way we played here. We were a bit over-cautious in situations.
“But hopefully that win will give us more confidence.”