Former Arsenal player Stewart Robson claims that Arsene Wenger's desire to avoid confrontation is costing the Gunners in this season's title race.

Robson made 150 appearances for the North London club between 1981 and 1986 and believes Wenger is not tough enough to tell his players when their performances are not up to scratch.

"From what I hear, Arsene Wenger doesn't like confrontation, he wants to keep everybody happy," Robson told talkSPORT.

"You can't work at a football club like that because you have to have confrontation, you have to leave people out, you have to criticise people when things aren't going right.

"He picks the team and puts the players out and I don't think he really gets after the players when it's not happening.

"He'll have a moan to his coaching staff but he doesn't confront the players and eventually the players have it too easy at Arsenal. They are given too many excuses and that's been the case for the last six or seven years."