Robert Pires believes the injury to Santi Cazorla derailed Arsenal’s season.
The central midfielder lasted two months of the season before picking up an injury that continues to keep him on the sidelines.
The Spaniard is a hugely influential player in Arsene Wenger’s team and with Jack Wilshere out on loan and other central midfielders missing parts of the season, his loss has been felt.
In addition Pires, who was part of the Invincibles side that won the title in 2003/04, believes an increase in the number of English players in the side could improve the fortunes of Arsene Wenger’s men.
‘We need character, we need leaders,’ the former midfielder told Sky Sports.
‘We have [Mesut] Ozil, [Alexis] Sanchez, Laurent Koscielny. Koscielny is a very good captain but we maybe need some English players, the likes of Tony Adams, Martin Keown and Lee Dixon.
‘We miss Santi Cazorla. He was injured in December and from then until now, Arsenal are not really the same.’
Arsenal are on a dreadful run of form that has seen them lose four of their last five Premier League games. Turning that run around won’t be easy when they return to action on Sunday, with Champions League-chasing Man City the visitors to the Emirates.
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