Arsenal legend Ian Wright urges Arteta to sign another centre midfielder as Aouar continues to be linked with transfer

ARSENAL boss Mikel Arteta has been urged to sign another centre midfielder by Gunners legend Ian Wright.

Despite the £45million singing of Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid on transfer deadline day, Wright believes they are still short in the middle of the park.

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That player could be Houssem Aouar, the Lyon midfielder continues to be linked with a January move to the Emirates.

Wright was left fuming with the Gunners' collapse against Aston Villa at the weekend, and believes it shows they still need improvements to the squad.

Speaking on Match Of The Day 2, the 57-year-old said: "Mikel [Arteta] is going to want the players he wants to come in to implement what he wants.

"But at the same time, the effort and output from a team that was rested was nowhere near good enough.

“A Villa team that is coming there and you know they’re going to press you, you need to press your game upon them.

“Yes, there is a lacking of a central midfielder who can create and that’s what he needs."

With Partey picking up a thigh injury and substituted at half-time, midfield weaknesses could be exploited still further in the coming weeks.

The 27-year-old has withdrawn from Ghana's squad and will remain with the Gunners for treatment during the international break.

Amid rumours Arsenal could revive a move for Aouar in January, Wright believes the 22-year-old could be the final piece in the jigsaw.

He told Premier League Productions: "If he [Arteta] can continue to improve, like players improve with his coaching, and then he's then able to add to that with Aouar, who they're trying to get in the midfield alongside Partey, then you've got someone who can create for the forwards."

But the Londoners will have to up their offer if they want to bag the Frenchman, with Lyon chief Vincent Ponsont claiming their bid was 'below the market value' in the summer.

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