Philippe Senderos was given time off in order to recover from the mental blow of Arsenal's Champions League exit, according to his father.

The Gunners departed the Champions League at the quarter-final stage after they suffered a 5-3 aggregate defeat to Liverpool.

Senderos was criticised, by some, after he failed to mark Sami Hyypia and was easily turned by Fernando Torres during Liverpool's 4-2 triumph in the second leg at Anfield.

Alexandre Song was then a surprise replacement for the Switzerland international for last Sunday's 2-1 defeat to rivals Manchester United.

And Senderos' father, Julien, has confirmed that his son needed time to recuperate following Arsenal's European exit.

"Philippe has been on the phone to us every day for the last few days," he said in the Daily Mail.

"He was not feeling too good after Arsenal went out of the Champions League.

"[Manager] Arsene Wenger gave him Sunday and Monday off so he could clear his mind and he has done that.

"But it's not the case that he is suffering from depression."

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