Arsenal football club needs more homegrown players, according to Robert Pires.
The legend believes Unai Emery should target more English talents in the January transfer window because it will help him to address the lack of leadership in his team.
He believes you have to be born in England to fully connect to how football should be played in the country and at Arsenal.
His words, “The team needs so many ingredients in the squad. Physical, technical, some players with intelligence. Of course, we need leadership – and we need English players,”
“We need English players because we are in England and nobody else has grown up with this mentality.
“You need to be born here. It’s very nice when you get to discover new countries but for me when you play in England you need English players.
“It’s a different time. But I used to play with David Seaman, Lee Dixon, Tony Adams, Martin Keown, Ashley Cole, Ray Parlour… We’re talking about six English players in the team. We need similar players.
“Of course I respect the Arsenal philosophy but we are in the Premier League and it’s so tough every weekend.”
“My problem is I am always confident and optimistic when I talk about Arsenal,”
“This team has such quality. The squad can improve this situation.
“The most important thing now is that Unai Emery needs to talk to the group to try to find a solution together. I hope they can, for the players, for the club, for the manager.
“I know he is having trouble. Unai is a good guy. He is a nice person. He is a good manager.
“He is under pressure, unfortunately. Fans can’t always appreciate the details of the situation but to be a manager is very difficult, especially when you work in the Premier League.
“You can be a manager in Spain, France or Italy but when you come to England the intensity is totally different. It is about the fight, the spirit. The intensity is extremely difficult.”
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