Arsenal failed to sign top quality forward, have doubts over Lucas Perez says Paul Merson

Arsenal legend Paul Merson believes his former club failed to add a top quality forward to the squad in the recently concluded summer transfer window. The Gunners left it late to conclude their business, having added Spaniard Lucas Perez and Shkodran Mustafi, with the latter arriving from Valencia on deadline day.

Arsene Wenger wanted to strengthen his back four, especially after Gabriel Paulista and Per Mertesacker picked up injuries during the pre-season The German international is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines as he is not expected to return until the end of this calendar year.

At the other end of the pitch, Arsenal have Olivier Giroud and Perez as the only first choice strikers in the squad, with Danny Welbeck out with a long-term injury. Wenger has signed Perez from Deportivo de La Coruna, but Merson has his concerns whether the 27-year-old is the right choice for the Gunners.

"They could have done their deals a little bit earlier, but they're not bad. Shkodran Mustafi is a good player, and Granit Xhaka from Gladbach looks a decent midfielder too," Merson told Sky Sports.

"There was a bit of panic towards the end but I'll give them a B+ because they did one thing they needed to and that's sign a centre-half.

"They would have got an A if they had signed a top forward because I'm not sure about Lucas Perez. He's been in Spain and their national team have been looking for a centre forward for a long time and he hasn't played."

Laurent Koscielny and another summer signing Rob Holding played in the heart of the back four in the second and the third league fixture. The arrival of Mustafi is likely to see Holding being dropped from the starting lineup for league fixtures.