Arsene Wenger has confirmed that he is searching for a new centre-half to solve Arsenal's weakness against the long ball as well as a 'creative playmaker'.
Speaking at a meeting with shareholders at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, the Gunners boss was unusually forthcoming on his intention to enter the transfer market this summer - and jokingly advised stand-in managing director Ken Friar to stay near to a phone throughout the coming months.
While insisting that his team defended set pieces as well as their title rivals, Wenger admitted that the Gunners had been vulnerable to long balls aimed down the middle of the defence and vowed to address the fault. Wenger also revealed that he wants to buy a creative player, although he didn't specify the exact position the player would fill. Already deprived of Mathieu Flamini's services for next season, speculation is rife that Alex Hleb will follow his close friend to Milan, although Wenger remain adamant that the Belarusian will not be sold.
"What people say about the buy-out clause, it is not as simple as it looks," said the Frenchman. "It is much more difficult and the clubs are reluctant to do that [invoke the 'Webster Clause'].
"We want to keep Hleb, we want him to be part of our team next year. It is as simple as that. We have lost one player, we do not want to lose more."
Arsenal are also expected to be in the market for a new centre-midfielder Following the departure of Flamini - a shortage set to be exacerbated by Gilberto Silva's exit.