Former Arsenal star Michael Thomas says the club need to sign another creative midfielder.

The Gunners were linked with Houssem Aouar in the summer, but the 22-year-old decided to stay at Lyon.

"Through Arteta giving the team a more robust look, it has come at a cost to the creative side of our game," Thomas told Caught Offside. "The players are playing very rigid.

"You need to be able to control the ball in areas that the opposing team doesn't want to be and suffocate them. I think this will change in time but it needs to be sooner rather than later.

"Mesut Ozil obviously offers great creativity when he plays, but at what cost to the team's efficiency?

"The team obviously needs more creativity going forward because they simply don't have enough good efforts on goal. We are used to the frontline being played in behind, but recently everything seems to be in front of the opposition with no penetration or speed in the attacks.

"Another creative outlet is very needed whether it be Aouar or someone else."