Arsenal are missing a midfielder capable of linking their defence with their attack, and Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse would have been a ‘perfect’ signing, according to journalist Paul Brown.

Mikel Arteta brought in five new faces during the transfer window and spent over £100 million but may still end up regretting not recruiting another midfielder.

What are Arsenal’s current midfield options?

Porto star Fabio Vieira was the only new midfield option brought to the club this summer, signing for £34 million.

But the 22-year-old is more of an attacking presence, playing either as a number 10 or on the wing for the Portuguese giants last term.

Arteta favours a 4-2-3-1 formation, leaving just Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Mohamed Elneny as options for the deeper roles.

But with both Partey and Elneny missing Arsenal’s last two matches with injury, the Gunners have been over-reliant on just two stars.

With their Europa League campaign getting underway, the club are playing a dangerous game moving forward as the games come thick and fast.

What has Brown said on the situation?

Brown says that Arsenal are missing a player who is capable of dictating play from deep, branding their current options as too similar.

He pinpoints Ward-Prowse, who has 45 career goals to his name, and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Ruben Neves, who was previously valued at £70 million, as two stars who would have been perfect additions.

Brown told GIVEMESPORT: “I think they just missed that one player who links the defence with the attack and can play either the ball over the top or play that first pass out to release a runner. That Ruben Neves kind of player would have been perfect - or James Ward Prowse. I think their midfield, it doesn't look weak, it just looks like they have a lot of players who are quite similar. So I think it lacks balance.”

Did Arsenal try to sign another midfielder?

According to the Telegraph, deadline day saw the Gunners make a late push to sign Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz, with the Brazilian having entered final year of his contract.

They had three bids for the Brazilian rejected, with the last being worth £25 million, before Arsenal walked away from negotiations.

Youri Tielemans was also linked with Arteta’s side, with the Leicester City man’s contract set to expire next summer, too.

There were reports the Belgian was available for just £25 million early in the window, but the Gunners could not agree a fee with the Foxes.