Assistant manager Steve Bould blasts Arsenal’s under-performing players

Steve Bould let rip at Arsenal’s flops after Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat to Swansea.

Gunners legend Bould, 50, was given the green light by boss Arsene Wenger for his dressing room rant.

Wenger’s No 2 demanded a major improvement and accused some Emirates stars of not putting in enough effort. Wenger was also furious with his team but allowed Bould to have his say on this occasion.

The Arsenal chief and his players suffered abuse from the fans after two late goals from Michu sunk the Londoners.

Saturday’s rollicking was former defender Bould’s first major blast at the team since he replaced Pat Rice as Wenger’s right-hand man in the summer.

Bould is respected by all the club’s players and some would like him to be allowed to have more of a say in training.

Arsenal head to Athens today for their final Champions League group clash with Olympiakos. They are already into the knockout stages and Wenger will leave some key players at home and let them rest before Saturday’s crucial home game with West Brom.

Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere and Lukas Podolski will stay in London.

And Wenger will decide this morning whether to also rest Mikel Arteta and Santi Cazorla.