Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has hinted he wants to sign a new attacking midfielder this summer.
Arteta concedes the Gunners lack a player in the class of former teammate Andrey Arshavin. The pair played together for the Gunners and it emerged earlier this season that Arteta is in regular contact with the former Russia international.
Discussing his midfield options last week, Arteta conceded they missed a player of Arshavin's qualities, along with that of several other former attacking midfield schemers. The Gunners manager hinting the players who have occupied the role this season aren't the right fit for him.
Quoted by Sport-Express, he declared on Sky Sports, "Remember which players we played earlier in the position of (Mesut) Ozil and (Matteo) Guendouzi?
"This is (Santi) Cazorla, (Tomas) Rosicky, Arshavin, (Aaron) Ramsey, (Henrikh) Mkhitaryan, (Jack) Wilshire. There are no such people in the club now.
"We must resume this cycle, because otherwise there will be no more such players at Arsenal. And they are an important part of any team."
Arshavin, now 39, spent four years on the books with Arsenal, playing over 100 games, before leaving for Zenit St Petersburg. He originally signed for Arsenal in 2009 before returning on loan to Zenit in 2012. He then signed for the Russian outfit the following season.
- updated July 27
