Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown believes the Gunners were too lazy against Braga in the Champions League and desperately need leaders who can lead them to success.

Writing on his Daily Mail page, the 44-year old believes how making seven changes from last Saturday’s defeat against Tottenham Hotspur was not enough as the players simply didn’t work hard enough. Keown, who spent more than ten years at Arsenal, added how striker Nicklas Bendtner should have done more especially to meet Theo Walcott’s crosses from the right.

With the Gunners set to face Aston Villa away from home on Saturday, the Englishman explained how every Arsenal player is to take responsibility and if required, become a leader and lead the team to success.

Keown concluded by saying how nothing is lost yet for Arsenal who are still fighting for the title in what seems to be one of the most open races ever.

After the Braga game, Keown wrote:

Despite the fact there were seven changes from Saturday, the players coming in should share that hurt and have pride in the club and the performance. I watched some of Real Madrid against Ajax and they were all working their socks off.

There was laziness all over the pitch for Arsenal. Nicklas Bendtner has been talking himself up a lot in the papers, but his work rate is not good enough.

There were times against Braga when Theo Walcott put in decent crosses and Bendtner was not willing to try to get on the end of them – he wasn’t busting a gut like he should have been.

Now Arsenal’s players have to take collective responsibility. It is all very well taking the plaudits when you do well but you have to take the criticism together, too. It hurts having to listen to criticism but the mark of top players is how they react. You need ruthlessness.

This Arsenal team need more leaders and it is no good saying, ‘I’m not one’. You have to become one because it is an ingredient of being a top player. It is an opportunity for someone to show those credentials and lead the team on to success.

With the title race so open, there are trophies there for the taking this season. Real winners rebalance, refocus and don’t stop until they achieve what they set out to win. This is what Arsenal need now.