Today's state of Arsenal - thorn in the flesh for club's legends

After Gunners' legend Sol Campbell expressed his views on the current situation at the Emirates Stadium, another great Arsenal name spoke to the press about the troubles North London club is going through.

Ex Arsenal, Chelsea, Barcelona and France midfielder Emmanuel Petit is not happy at all with the approach of the club's ownership and executives to the transfers. With the dedications current Arsenal players are showing on the pitch also.

Spending millions 'on the wrong players' is what needs to be addressed immediately, Petit believes.

Arsenal are 'soft' and they need a tough leader, says Gunners legend

Mikel Arteta's men were beaten by Villarreal in the UEFA Europa League semi-finals and they finished eighth in the Premier League - thus failed to qualify for Europe for the first time in 25 years. A season to forget at the Emirates Stadium.

Petit played 116 times for the club between 1997 and 2000, then at Arsenal's former ground, the Highbury Stadium. He spoke his mind about the Kroenke family, which owns the club, and their transfer strategy and how it makes little to no sense.

For example, Arsenal signed Willian from Chelsea last summer. Brazilian receives a weekly wage of over 300,000 USD (almost 33 million KSH) but apart from two performances last season altogether, he has failed to make much of an impact or show intensity and desire for the shirt.

'I don't recognise the club anymore. I don't see the Arsenal blood on the pitch.' Petit told The Sun.

'It's not the question of money because Arsenal have the power to put £70million on a player if they want to.

'It's a question of profile - who do you want for your teams in terms of character and quality?

'What are Arsenal doing in the transfer market? I don't understand it. They spend money - a lot of money sometimes - but on the wrong player.'

Unless there's a change of direction soon, Petit is concerned Arsenal will drop further down the table.

'This is the turning point for Arsenal, they are at the end of the world. They need to take the right direction or else they'll drop, drop and drop again and it'll be more difficult for them to attract players.' he added.

'With all the respect I have for (Bukayo) Saka and (Emile) Smith Rowe - they have been playing brilliantly, especially Saka - but the other players - the experienced players - what have they brought to the team since they've arrived? 'You have to look at yourself in the mirror.'

Arsenal on the offensive: 6 billion Ksh for White, 8 for Camavinga

The ongoing transfer window might possibly bring a lot of changes at the Emirates - Arteta has already set his eyes on Albert Sambi Lokonga, Joaquin Correa, Yves Bissouma, Donny van de Beek, Ben White, Alexander Isak, Andre Onana, Nabil Fekir, Wilfried Zaha, Houssem Aouar, Julian Brandt and many more.