Former Arsenal striker Charlie Nicholas has insisted he would drop Matteo Guendouzi for the Gunners' pivotal clash with Leicester City on Saturday.
The Frenchman has been a mainstay in Unai Emery's starting XI this season and has been one of the club's best performers.
With Granit Xhaka currently out of the side following his outburst against Crystal Palace, it leaves Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira as Emery's only two defensive-minded midfielders.
Dani Ceballos, Joe Willock and Mesut Ozil are all more focused on attacking and against an in-form Leicester City, Arsenal will need to be disciplined, particularly in midfield.
However, Nicholas has insisted that he would drop Guendouzi and instead play Ainsley Maitland-Niles alongside Torreira for the trip to the King Power Stadium.
"Matteo Guendouzi is having a shocker and he is getting away with it due to Xhaka – he needs to be taken out of the team," Nicholas told Sky Sports.
"I would rather Unai Emery go with Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Lucas Torreira.
"This is his (Torreira's) normal position, so let them be the legs in front of you."
Arsenal travel to the midlands knowing a defeat would seriously damage their hopes of returning to the Champions League.
Leicester and Chelsea hold a six-point lead over the Gunners, which would be extended to nine if the Foxes were to come out victorious.
It's a game that could be pivotal for Emery's hopes of remaining in power at the Emirates, with the pressure building on the boss after three consecutive draws, in which Arsenal surrendered a winning position.
Few former players have held much hope for a defining result against Leicester and with that in mind, Nicholas has concurred with the general view.
"Mesut Ozil played well (against Wolves ) so he should stay in the side ahead of Dani Ceballos while bringing Nicolas Pepe in for the counter-attack," Nicholas added.
"I am not feeling good about this one.
"It is a very good Leicester team at the moment. Brendan Rodgers has earned the praise. Jamie Vardy’s goalscoring level has returned and James Maddison has been great, not to mention everybody else playing their part.
"This Leicester side are much better to watch than the title-winning side.
"They have pace, balance and are technically very good – you can get at them defensively in my mind but they are a decent force with pace and movement in the attacking half.
"Arsenal do not know how to handle that and cannot defend. Leicester have too much of this for my liking."
