Former Liverpool striker Dean Saunders has branded Malang Sarr a ‘shambles’ for his performance in ’s defeat to and believes has ‘just given up’.
Arsenal boosted their hopes of securing a top-four finish in the Premier League as they ran out 4-2 winners against ’s side at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening.
Sarr, meanwhile, was making just his sixth Premier League appearance of the season, while Thomas Tuchel admits Lukaku, who also started the game against Arsenal, is still struggling for fitness following his recent Achilles injury.
And Saunders believes both players were particularly poor during Chelsea’s latest setback.
‘I’m going to be harsh but Sarr was a shambles,’ Saunders told .
‘Not good enough. For Sarr to come into the team when he’s not playing every week, he’s made so many mistakes.
‘Christensen… not good enough.
‘I’ve got two thoughts about Lukaku because I was a striker and I do know how it feels when you aren’t scoring.
‘On the other hand, I’m looking at him and thinking are you working your socks off to try and stay in the team? Are you bothered? Do you realise the manager doesn’t like you so you packed in and give up? Do you realise the fans don’t like you for what your said?
‘I think he’s just given up. He’s not making any runs and because he doesn’t make any runs he is keeping the opposition centre-backs together in the middle of the pitch.
‘They are never getting pulled out of the middle or pulled apart.
‘Havertz plays up there and pulls people out wide and makes runs and comes short.
‘I’m watching Lukaku tonight and he’s walking, the ball gets switched across the pitch and he’s still walking.
‘When you get bought for £100 million and get paid a ridiculous amount of wages, that is the price on the ticket. If you don’t produce all the goods then you will get criticism.
‘You are the top player, top paid player, and he’s got to take it on the chin and try and come through it.’
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