Ray Parlour: Arsenal Need to Keep Ozil and Sign Three Players to Challenge for Title

Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour has revealed that the Gunners need two forwards and a central midfielder to challenge for the title next season.

The Gunners were leading the table for major parts of this season but a barrage of injuries to key players like Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil and Jack Wilshere has scuppered their challenge.

Ramsey and Ozil have come back from injury with three games left in the season and their presence had an immediate effect on the squad, which got its cutting edge back as was evident in their 3-0 thrashing of Hull City last weekend.

However, Arsenal's current season has brought about a lot of speculation regarding Ozil, who has failed to live up to expectations following his record £42.5m transfer from Real Madrid in the summer.

The midfielder has come under a lot of criticism from all quarters and is reportedly being scouted by Barcelona for a move in the upcoming transfer window.

Arsene Wenger is adamant that the midfielder will come good in the upcoming season with Theo Walcott set to return to full fitness and Ramsey extending his brilliant form through the course of the season.

Parlour adds that for Arsenal to make any progress in their league position, they have to strengthen without losing any players from their current side.

"Arsenal fans haven't seen the best of Ozil. Everyone got a big lift when he came to the club. The Arsenal fans would be a little bit surprised if he left straight away," he told talkSPORT.

"Wenger needs to keep every single player he's got in that squad and really strengthen in the summer.

"Arsenal need to buy two forwards and a holding midfielder if they're going to have any chance of winning the Premier League title next season," he added.

The Frenchman is likely to be handed a major transfer kitty to spend in the summer where he is likely to move for a striker to provide competition for Olivier Giroud.