Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit feels his old club are paying the price for not playing to their strengths and not having enough proven winners.
Saturday's FA Cup defeat at Manchester United means that unless the Gunners can wrestle their rivals from the top of the Premier League between now and the end of the campaign, they will have gone six seasons without winning a trophy.
And Petit, who won the Premier League and FA Cup double with Arsenal in 1998, thinks he knows why.
"Since 2005, and the departures of (Patrick) Vieira, (Robert) Pires and company, you realise he's banking above all on a young, malleable team where he can invest in a sporting project", Petit told The Sun.
"Arsenal's game is a trademark on the pitch but there aren't really any players with a winning mentality. This pains me because I am an Arsenal and fan and, over the last few seasons, if there's a team that's deserved to win a title it's them."
Arsenal have gained a reputation as a passing team, but Petit feels that not all of their players are suited to that style of football.
He added: "Players are playing against their nature a bit. Barca play exceptional football and from an early age they teach the boys the same way.
"That's not the case with Arsenal. There are players we've known for a while who are playing against their nature. I'm thinking of lads like Abou Diaby, whose physical impact is a bit less. There are players who try to play in the image of Cesc Fabregas when they don't have the same qualities."
