Wright: Gunners need Gattuso

The Emirates Stadium outfit are currently blessed with an array of skilful, passing middle-men, including Cesc Fabregas, Andriy Arshavin and Denilson.

However, the Gunners' lightweight presence in the heart of the pitch was easily dealt with by Premier League champions Manchester United's robust approach at the weekend, leading manager Arsene Wenger to accuse Sir Alex Ferguson's side of "anti-football."

Arsenal were strongly linked with Fiorentina enforcer Felipe Melo earlier this summer, only for the Brazilian international to join Juventus instead, while former Gunners' great Patrick Vieira appears set to remain at Inter Milan rather than return to North London.

And Wright, who scored 128 league goals for the club from 1991-98, believes recruiting an experienced central midfielder such as Gattuso is the key to holding the team together, allowing the likes of Fabregas, Denilson, Arshavin and Diaby to surge forward.

“Arsenal need to sign someone like AC Milan’s Gennaro Gattuso, an experienced, tough-tackling midfield enforcer who would not have allowed himself or his team-mates to be bullied by a player like United’s Darren Fletcher," he said in The Sun.

“It’s no good Wenger complaining about a lack of protection for his young players. They have to protect themselves.”