Arsenal legend Tony Adams believes that selling the best players at the club diminishes its ability to be a top European side, according to Goal.

The 45-year-old, who won four league titles as a player for the Gunners, believes that the departures of key players in recent seasons such as Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie to other major European clubs tarnish the respectability of the club.

Adams believes that whilst Arsenal continue to do this, they will struggle to end their seven year wait for a trophy, “It sends out all the wrong messages for me, being a selling club.” Adams added, “Piece by piece for seven years, it chips away at your credibility. Selling your best players is part of that.”

The ex-defender said he is often bemused as to why players would want to leave north London, “I very much see Arsenal as the biggest club in the world, so I can’t understand why anybody would want to play anywhere else – but I can understand it was very different for me.”

The former Arsenal captain believes his pessimistic outlook on the future of the Gunners is emulated by supporters of the club. This is despite Arsene Wenger’s side’s unbeaten start to the campaign both domestically in Europe.

Adams said, “I am looking at it not as an ex-player or pundit, but as a fan and giving what the fans are thinking and feeling.” He added, “The problem for me in the last seven years is the defensive vulnerabilities as a team – the goalkeeper, the back four, even the central midfield players, the mentality of the team.”

Adams also doesn’t believe that Arsenal have the quality to achieve what London rivals Chelsea did and win their first European crown, “I don’t think they are a team that are set up to do what Chelsea did last year in the Champions League and I don’t think Arsene wants to.”

One positive aspect for Adams is Arsenal’s defensive record so far this season. The Gunners have only conceded once in all competitions thus far and Adams believes that this could be a route to European success this campaign, “Year in, year out the team with the best defence wins the league and we saw the team with the best defence win the Champions League, so it makes you wonder why a lot of teams aren’t focusing more on defending.”

Adams is adamant that his beloved Arsenal are not good enough to be gracing the Wembley turf in May and competing for European success, “I expect them to score goals, but they cannot win the Champions League with their current mentality. I hope they prove me wrong, but against better teams I think they will fall short again. I am not alone here – I think most of the Arsenal fans would agree with me. To actually think you are going to play Barcelona or Real Madrid off the pitch... I don’t think this team are good enough to do that.”