Philippe Senderos is determined to save his Arsenal career

Philippe Senderos is determined to save his Arsenal career after admitting he broke down in tears as their season turned to disaster.

Swiss defender Senderos was left out in the cold after being axed for the defeat at Manchester United on Sunday which put the final nail in the coffin of the Gunners' Premier League title challenge.

That came just five days after he cried in the dressing room following Arsenal's Champions League quarterfinal defeat at Anfield when he got blamed for two of Liverpool's goals.

But his father Julien yesterday insisted his 23-year-old son can bounce back from the lowest point of his career - and is determined not to shy away from facing Reading tomorrow.

It is remarkably rare for a player to break down in tears in a dressing room, but Julien Senderos says his son has nothing to be ashamed of. Senderos Snr said: "Some players don't care whether they win or lose, they just pick up their wages and enjoy the living and lifestyle from their big contracts.

"But I don't see why if he cried in the dressing room it should be seen as a bad thing.

"In football it's seen as a sign of weakness - but I see it as a sign that he cares deeply.

"Philippe is OK, of course he is not happy because they have lost and he has taken a lot of the blame which is very hard for him and of course it's difficult formeto read and his mother as well. I read the Daily Mirror every day and I don't understand why he often gets criticised so much more than his team-mates.

"But he is old enough, mature enough and strong enough to deal with it. He is 23 years old, his world is not finished. He has to be strong and he has to move on.

"Philippe is an intelligent boy. He rarely talks about himself and when he talks he always talks about the team.

"That is because he puts the team first ahead of himself and always will and that is why he finds it so difficult to deal with things because he is so committed to the team."

The Swiss World Cup defender has taken the brunt of the criticism of Arsenal's end-of-season collapse and has been left devastated as a result.

But his father added: "He has been training with the first team this week, he is ready to play and whether he plays on Saturday is down to the manager, Arsene Wenger.

"Philippe completely respects the manager, who has given young players a chance, but it is a young team and sometimes young players have to grow up quickly.

"But he is a strong boy and he will come back."