Arsenal: Robert Pires urges Arsene Wenger to sign Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama

Arsenal legend Robert Pires has urged Arsene Wenger to sign Victor Wanyama to alleviate his problems in centre-midfield. The Southampton midfielder has quietly gone about his business this season and will be a brilliant addition to the squad, which needs another midfielder to shore up the defensive side of their game.

The Gunners are trying to overcome an injury crisis in the centre of midfield, with Santi Cazorla, Mikel Arteta, Francis Coquelin and Jack Wilshere all unavailable. Arsene Wenger is open to signing a player in the January transfer window and Pires believes that Wanyama will be a perfect fit at the Emirates.

"I know Wanyama," Pires said, as quoted by the Independent. "He is a very good ambassador of Kenyan football and has done well in Southampton but I hope he signs for Arsenal in the future.

"He has the speed, skill and physique. However, I think he needs to score more goals because then he will be world-class material."

The Gunners are currently using Mathieu Flamini and Aaron Ramsey in midfield with Calum Chambers being assessed for a possible stint in midfield. The England international played a defensive midfielder as part of the Arsenal Under-21 squad and has been given game time against Dinamo Zagreb and Sunderland at home over the past couple of weeks.

Wenger is believed to be watching the former Southampton man closely and will decide to indulge in the market only if he does not deem the 20-year-old good enough to play a part in midfield. This is not the first time that Chambers has been deployed in midfield, having also played that role during a similar injury crisis last season.

The Gunners will play Olympiacos in the final group of the Champions League on Wednesday (9 December) where they have to match or better their score against the Greek side at the Emirates. Anything less will see them being relegated to the Europa League for the first time in fifteen years.