Charlie Nicholas has urged Arsenal manager Unai Emery to sign two centre-backs as soon as possible for the forthcoming season.
Arsenal need to strengthen their squad after missing out on Uefa Champions League qualification for the third consecutive year after their form tailed off towards the end of the 2018/19 campaign.
Having conceded 51 goals in the Premier League last season, more any of the top four — Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs — the Gunners have been urged to rectify their defensive woes by one of their former players.
“Two centre-backs, immediately,” Nicholas told the Sky Sports’ Transfer Talk.
“They need a bit of pace. The guy who had pace was Laurent Koscielny, but he kind of lost it about two-to-three seasons ago after the injuries.
“After that, I’m happy to add bonuses in midfield and potentially a winger or another striker but for Arsenal, ultimately it has to be two centre-backs.
“Arsenal under Emery have to be a unit. You have to get the defensive structure right. Nacho Monreal has actually done okay for Arsenal considering what his limitations truly were. He was a left-back, he was never a centre-back but he had to play there and that always told me that the reality was that Arsenal’s big problem has been centre-backs.”
The north London club are somewhat restricted in what they can do in the market however, given that their budget is supposedly limited to £40m.
Read: Arsenal ‘optimistic’ of landing Tierney despite rejected bid
See Also: From the Bruised Banana to the Thunderbolt – Arsenal’s greatest ever away kits
Rafa’s replacement, Sane staying at Man City, and Liverpool’s first signing …
Here’s your daily news and transfer update. 👀 pic.twitter.com/FByE2oAt5D
— The Football Faithful (@FootyFaithful_) June 27, 2019