The president of Rwanda has criticised Arsenal after they lost their opening match of the new Premier League season to Brentford.

Paul Kagame, whose government sponsors the Gunners, said fans deserved better than “mediocrity”.

After the game on Friday, which Arsenal lost 2-0, Mr Kagame tweeted: “We just must NOT excuse or accept mediocrity.

“A team has to be built with purpose to win win win.”

In a separate tweet, he said “Brentford deserved to win” and added that “Arsenal and the fans don’t deserve to kind of get used to this”.

He added: “It’s been a struggle of about decade(s) -ups&downs-more downs until this point.

“Can’t we have a plan that really works??

“One part to look at is how we deal in the market- players we buy to execute the plan.

“The touch&go mentality does not bring change.”

What?? It's football,it's a loss of Arsenal at/to Brentford. Brentford deserved to win and they did. The game itself aside Arsenal and the fans don't deserve to kind of get used to this….NO !!! I say this as one of the big fans of Arsenal. The change has taken to long to come!

Rwanda‘s government has had a sponsorship deal with the club worth more than £30m since 2018.

As part of the deal, a “Visit Rwanda” logo is emblazoned on the Arsenal players’ shirts.

It's been a struggle of about decade(s) -ups&downs-more downs until this point. Can't we have a plan that really works?? One part to look at is how we deal in the market- players we buy to execute the plan. The touch&go mentality does not bring change.

Mr Kigame has ruled Rwanda since the aftermath of the country’s genocide in 1994.

Around 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were murdered over the course of 100 days.

The genocide ended when Tutsi rebels, led by Mr Kagame, seized control and triggered an exodus of more than two million Hutus.

We just must NOT excuse or Accept mediocrity. A team has to be built with purpose to win win win. So that when we lose….it was not to be expected! I am sure we all know on whose shoulders the heaviest burden rests. I hope they know too or even accept it!!! End

Mr Kagame has regularly aired his views on the club’s performances.

Related posts:

How EU nations are trying to plot route out of lockdown – as Germany ‘declares third wave’ How many vaccines has each G7 country pledged to poorer nations? Moderna and Pfizer jabs linked to mild heart inflammation but ‘benefits still outweigh risks’ Chris Eubank ‘devastated’ after son Sebastian found dead days before 30th birthday ‘Panting, cajoling, shouting’: Sky News witnesses chaotic migrant boat launches near Calais North Korean hackers detected searching for COVID vaccine manufacturing secrets Boy, 12, dies after car he was driving crashed into a lorry in Ireland Eight killed as police hunt for gang in Rio favela turns deadly Afghans to get billions to fund humanitarian relief from assets frozen in US Two journalists held in Afghanistan by Taliban released Police move in on truckers protesting at US-Canada border after injunction issued What are the Minsk agreements and why they could help avert a Russian invasion