Mikel Arteta has admitted that Arsenal must add more creativity to their midfield in order to break down sides who sit deep.
The Gunners struggled to create any openings during their 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Wednesday, and did not record a single shot on target during the entire match.
And Arteta has appeared to call on the Arsenal hierarchy to add the necessary players in the transfer window to help his side progress next season.
"Look at the players that we had in the past at this club in those positions," Arteta told Sky Sports.
"You go back to (Santi) Cazorla, to (Tomas) Rosicky, to (Andrey) Arshavin when he played there, to (Aaron) Ramsey when he played there, to (Henrikh) Mkhitaryan when he came in. Even Jack Wilshere used to play in those pockets all the time.
"That is a lot of players who are now not here. We have to renew that cycle, because if not, those kind of players won't be there for us anymore.
"They are a big part of what any squad needs."
When asked whether Dani Ceballos could be used in a more advanced role, Arteta explained why the Spaniard is best utilised in a deeper role at the Emirates.
"Dani is someone who has the ability to play further up, for sure," Arteta added.
"But with the needs that we have at the moment and the way that he helps us join the lines together, to make us more stable with the ball, we have to use him there."
Despite the continual questions about the absence of Mesut Ozil - a player considered as Arsenal's most creative - Arteta refused to confirm that the German would win a recall to the squad.
"I know what Mesut brings," says Arteta. "You only have to check his stats and look at what he's able to do in those tight areas without any space."
"That's all I can say."
