Per Mertesacker has been accused of disrespecting Arsenal, Arsene Wenger and the fans by admitting he would prefer to sit in the stands than play on the pitch.
Former Liverpool and Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes the 33-year-old club captain revealed too much in a recent interview with German newspaper Spiegel.
The centre-back raised eyebrows when he revealed his body was 'finished' and said he was looking forward to being 'free for the first time in my life' when he hangs up his boots at the end of the season.
He will then take over as head of Arsenal's academy, a role he has already been fulfilling part-time, but Hamann doubts Mertesacker's ability to set a good example for youngsters after reading his interview.