Szczesny's dad slams ''embarrassing'' Arsenal defence

Arsenal's players react after conceding a goal in a past match. PHOTO/AFP

London, England: The father of Wojciech Szczesny has labelled Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker 'a rhinoceros' as he declares that his son should not be singled out for the Gunners' defensive failings.

Szczesny has come under staunch criticism in the past seven days, after errors on both goals saw Arsenal lose 2-0 at Southampton, before revelations - exclusively revealed by Mirror Football - that he was caught smoking in the showers after the game.

The 24-year-old was subsequently slapped with a £20,000 fine and was replaced by David Ospina for the FA Cup win over Hull.

Maciej Szczesny - himself a former Polish international goalkeeper - says that it is unfair to blame his son.

The elder Szczesny declares that the entire defence are "a disaster", while particularly deriding German World Cup winner Mertesacker.

He said: "He made a mistake for the first [Southampton] goal, coming too far from the goal, but please look at the Arsenal defence - how these guys are playing is a disaster, but for some reason, nobody pays any attention to it.

"Laurent Koscielny should immediately have run [back] to protect Wojciech, and Per Mertesacker should have stood in the goal.

"Unfortunately they did not do that and gave him zero support, and in that situation Mertesacker showed the agility of a rhinoceros.

"Wojciech is often paying for it [the mistakes], and that he really cares. He needs someone who will critically analyse every game with him, but also remain positive.

"Someone should support him, but the coaching staff at Arsenal are not doing that, meanwhile the entire defence this season is an embarrassment."