Arsenal legend Lauren believes Mesut Ozil is the only one to blame for his exile at the club.
The German has not featured for the Gunners in recent months, and is not even in their 25-man squad for the Premier League this term.
Ozil has refused to leave the club unless he is paid the remainder of his contract. It is unclear if he will depart in January.
"Ozil is a top player, it's sad to see a top player not being involved in a team like Arsenal," Lauren told Sky Sports News.
"All of us who follow Arsenal want to see the best players but this situation has not come from now. I believe it is the same with (Unai) Emery and Arteta.
"Arteta would love to have the best players in the squad. If Ozil is not there it's a consequence of many issues.
"First of all, it's the fault of the player. I believe if you have the quality, if you are a top player, if you are not involved week in week out I believe that is your own fault.
"Obviously all of the club have to try to do their best in order to make the player happy and be in the squad and be in the team and play every weekend.
"But the fact that with Emery and now with Arteta he hasn't been consistent it is not the manager. I believe it is more the player than the manager or the club.
"This is what I believe because if you have the quality, if you are a top player and you are one hundred per cent committed in the team they will play you, they won't have any other option.
"If you are doing everything that you should do as a top player it is difficult for a manager and a club to say look you are not going to play, you are not going to be involved in the team.
"Of course it hurts (Ozil). It hurts (me) because I would love to see the best players in my team. I would love to see the best players playing for Arsenal.
"They're the team that I follow, they're the team that I love and I would like to see the best players in that squad but if he is not there it's a consequence of so many issues that came from the past."