Former Arsenal midfielder David Bentley has urged Mikel Arteta to completely rebuild his team this summer as he tries to create a squad which can compete for major honours.
The Gunners appear highly unlikely to qualify for Europe next season after picking up just four points from three Premier League games since football restarted, and they currently lie in ninth place and 11 points behind fourth placed Chelsea.
They do still have a chance of silverware in the FA Cup, however, and they will face Manchester City in the semi-finals after beating Sheffield United 2-1 on Sunday.
Speaking to 888Sport, Bentley said he thinks Arteta needs a clear-out of his side when the transfer window opens, and highlighted defender David Luiz as an example of what is going wrong at the club at the moment.
"I don’t know what the thinking is at boardroom level because Arsenal need to ship out half the team and get a good core in," Bentley said.
"That’s difficult but can be done. The major problem is that we don’t know if they’re singing from the same hymn sheet at boardroom level.
"I don’t know if it’s because of a lack of preparation in getting players in but the recruitment with the back four is a problem. It always has been. David Luiz is problematic.
"He’s a great technical player but if you want to bring the youth through and create a winning mentality is he really the type to help with that? I was surprised at the new contract."
Bentley questioned why the Gunners didn't look at bringing in the likes of Crystal Palace centre-back Gary Cahill last summer, adding: "Maybe Luiz is more fashionable. Cahill has the core ability and has been there and done it. He would have been more of a fit for Arsenal.
"You look at Liverpool – and Manchester United are trying to do it – and they build a solid foundation that allows the players to express themselves.
"If you have solid back-four and solid spine of the team it’s easier for the young players to step into that. Instead Arsenal leak goals and look vulnerable."
