Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Unai Emery told the signings he must complete at Arsenal this summer - ‘It’s worrying’
ARSENAL boss Unai Emery has been told the type of signings he must make to improve their “worrying” away form.
Arsenal: Emery needs to sort out 'worrying' defence says pundit
Arsenal sit fifth in the Premier League table and in a battle to make the top four with just two games remaining.
Three defeats in a row against Crystal Palace, Wolves and Leicester have put a huge dent in their chances of participating in the Champions League for the first time since 2017.
The Gunners have just the 10th best away record in the top flight having lost eight of their 18 games on the road to date.
Emery’s defence has come under scrutiny - a problem former manager Arsene Wenger had in the latter years of his near 22-year reign at the club.
He’s a good manager, he’s done some good things, but he needs to be backed
Former Tottenham midfielder Ryan Mason believes defence is an area that needs serious improvement in the summer.
But he also thinks the spine right throughout the Arsenal line up is not good enough.
“It’s worrying,” Mason said on talkSPORT.
“I’ve probably said it all season, I think they’ve lacked a spine, a real spine to their team.
“It’s probably been the case for a good five, six, seven years now.
“And if you’re an Arsenal fan, going away from home, I don’t see them as favourites in any game.
“We’re talking about them getting Champions League football, which is still possible, they’re in the semi-final of a European competition.
“But I look at them and they’ve got Burnley away on the last day of the season.
Arsenal: Emery says it will be ‘very difficult’ to make top four
“For me Burnley are favourites, strong favourites for that game.
“It’s worrying, it is worrying.
“I think the manager needs to be backed. He’s a good manager, he’s done some good things, but he needs to be backed.
“They need to get some proper, proper defenders at that club.”