Arsenal need Rice, Merson believes

Arsenal have long needed a defensive midfielder, Lucas Torreira has filled in the role admirably but injuries and a loss of form have not exactly helped the Uruguayan. Former Arsenal fan favourite, Paul Merson, believes that Arsenal must look across London for solutions, with West Ham's Declan Rice a capable one.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Paul Merson said:
"Chelsea have been linked with him, but I don't know why Arsenal aren't looking at Declan Rice,"

"Arsenal are crying out for a holding midfield player. They don't need a midfielder who's going to be on the edge of the opposition box, they need a disciplined defensive midfielder, who is going to sit in front of the back four and organise the side; one who, when he gets the ball, gives it simple with 10-yard passes."

Merson continued: "It's such a hard job and that's why I can't believe Arsenal aren't going in for a player like Rice. A player like Rice can allow the attacking players to flourish and it gives the central defenders the chance to be better than what they are. I don't care who you are in football, Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Alessandro Costacurta and even a Virgil van Dijk, if you've got people running at you left, right and centre every minute, they are going to go past you on occasions"

"Arsenal haven't really had a disciplined defensive midfielder since Gilberto Silva. Everyone talks about the club never really replacing Patrick Vieira, and of course, but they never replaced Gilberto either,” he continued.
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“There are players in the current team that are meant to do that job but they don't have the discipline to do it, and that needs addressing.”

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