Arsenal need a whole new backline this summer if they are to challenge at the top of the table again, according to Charlie Nicholas.
The Gunners have missed out on qualification for the Champions League via the Premier League, with Unai Emery's side finishing fifth in his first season as head coach.
And Nicholas says that the Spanish tactician needs to sort out the Arsenal defence if they are to get back into the top four.
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"We need a whole new backline," Nicholas told Sky Sports .
"I am disappointed that Petr Cech is retiring. I would have encouraged them to give him another year. Bernd Leno has got mistakes in him and would have benefited from Cech giving him a helping hand.
"We're looking for four defenders, so on top of the crazy situation of letting Aaron Ramsey go for nothing, it is not great. They need two centre-backs and two full-backs."
But the Sky Sports pundit has not suggested getting rid of all the club's defenders, with Nicholas adding that there are some players who are good to keep within the squad.
However, he has delivered a scathing assessment of one man; Shkodran Mustafi .
“Hector Bellerin will come back and play right-back, as Ainsley Maitland-Niles could be pushed on potentially. Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Sead Kolasinac are good to have as squad players.
"Nacho Monreal and Laurent Koscielny are getting on a bit now. Shkodran Mustafi must be released in my opinion. Konstantinos Mavropanos and Rob Holding are still to come back when they are fit."
It's likely that many Arsenal fans will agree with what Nicholas has said about Mustafi.
The German has struggled once again this season, with that error-ridden display against Crystal Palace - which ultimately cost the Gunners a top four spot - proving to be the final straw for a lot of supporters .
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