Arsenal legend wants five new signings at Emirates
Arsenal legend Martin Keown thinks the club needs to make five signings in the summer.
The iconic Gunners centre-back urged Mikel Arteta to take decisive action in the transfer market, particularly at the back.
Bernd Leno’s future is in doubt, Hector Bellerin looks to be surplus to requirements, David Luiz is set to quit after contract talks stalled and Granit Xhaka reportedly wants to leave.
And Keown wants to see adequate replacements bought in.
He told TalkSPORT: “Well, it’s a time for change in terms of the players, personnel.
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“One to 11, if you go right through the team, Leno’s not signing a new deal by all accounts, Bellerin at right-back is not holding that position down, the two central defenders, you’d say there is uncertainty over who is going to play there.
“[Kieran] Tierney the left-back is probably the only one who is a shoo-in as a defender.
“You run right through the team and it’s the young kids really that are the backbone of the team. [Bukayo] Saka, [Emile] Smith Rowe have been outstanding this season.
“I think a minimum of maybe five changes. I think the front players are still good – I’d keep [Alexandre] Lacazette, I like him actually in the club.
“[Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang’s had his problems this season, [Gabriel] Martinelli needs to be used more, maybe on the wing perhaps.
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“Then you’ve got Saka to play, Smith Rowe, make sure they build those careers.
“But they need a base in midfield, [Thomas] Partey needs a partner alongside him, they need to spend there.
“Gabriel [Magalhaes] has been disappointing as a central defender, Luiz is about to leave. So there is huge surgery to be made by the manager.”
The Gunners have been heavily linked with a move for Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo.
Arteta is said to be keeping a close eye on the relegated Cottagers’ players with Adarabioyo reportedly at the top of the wanted list.
Elsewhere, Brighton have told Arsenal and Liverpool to cough up £40m if they want Yves Bissouma.
And ex-Gunner Aaron Ramsey would reportedly ‘love to return to the Emirates’ after his injury-plagued spell at Juventus.