Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has admitted that his dream signing to sort out the Gunners dodgy defence would be Juventus and Italy stalwart Giorgio Chiellini.
Parlour was part of the legendary ‘Invincibles’ side that went through the entire 2003/04 Premier League season unbeaten, although the North London clubs ability to defend has been in a steady decline ever since then.
While Parlour reckons that Unai Emery’s signing of Sokratis Papastathopoulos from Borussia Dortmund will prove to be an astute addition, it’s an old school leader like Juve’s 33-year-old Chiellini that he would really like to see calling the shots at the back at the Emirates next season:
“Arsenal badly needed to improve their defence following last season and Emery has clearly made that a priority this summer,” Parlour told bwin.
“I think Sokratis is a good signing and he will be a no-nonsense, traditional defender in the mould of Tony Adams rather than someone who wants to play out from the back.
“Sokratis is very experienced and he’s a big game player with great leadership qualities. The fact he knows Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan so well is a bonus too.
“I think Arsenal still need to improve their defence, though, even after signing Sokratis and Lichtsteiner.
“They left themselves open far too often last season and it was their away form that cost them.
“The club needs an old school leader who will put their body on the line and demand the best from his team-mates. Chiellini would be the dream defender, though he’s getting on a bit.”
