David Luiz's deadline day arrival at Arsenal will help the team in more than just defensive areas, according to former Gunners striker Alan Smith.
Luiz was the fifth summer signing for Unai Emery after the arrival of Gabriel Martinelli, William Saliba, Dani Ceballos and Nicolas Pepe. Despite the incomings, the departure of club captain Laurent Koscielny to Ligue 1 club Bordeaux, and the agreement between Arsenal and Saint Etienne that saw Saliba return to his former club on loan, left Emery short on defensive options.
A number of defenders were linked with the vacancyin the Gunners' backline, but a surprise move for Chelsea defender Luiz was the deal that was completed ahead of the deadline.
Smith says that the arrival of the Brazilian will add an extra dimension to Unai Emery's team due to his passing abilities, which will help Gunners attackers such as Nicolas Pepe, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.
"When Pepe signed, you did think that’s well and good but we do need a centre half," Smith told The Athletic .
"Luiz coming in has eased some of those concerns as well as being a great exponent of the diagonal pass.
"When you have such quick targets to chase after these balls it’s a good way of getting from back to front. It is nice to have that mixture.
"There is that sense for opponents that if you press and squeeze Arsenal in midfield you can stop them building up, so that’s a nice weapon in the armoury to have."
