Martin Keown has urged Arsenal caretaker boss Freddie Ljungberg to drop David Luiz following Unai Emery’s dismissal.
Former midfielder Ljungberg has been placed in charge of the Gunners on a temporary basis after Emery lost his job at the Emirates.
Spanish manager Emery spent an underwhelming 18 months in north London after taking over from Arsene Wenger and leaves with Arsenal sitting eighth in the Premier League.
Arsenal travel to Carrow Road to face Norwich City on Sunday and Keown believes Brazilian defender Luiz should be dropped to the bench for the Premier League clash.
‘Whoever they decide to bring in after Freddie Ljungberg will be inheriting the same problems that Emery failed to fix,’ Gunners hero Keown told the Daily Mail.
‘Their lack of solidity at the back, for example. For Norwich on Sunday, I’d have David Luiz on the bench.
‘Sokratis and Calum Chambers would be my centre backs and I’d have Lucas Torreira deep in that midfield, patrolling that area in front of them.
‘Get that triangle right, then build the team from there. Whoever comes in after Emery’s exit, he has a big job to do. The board have to get this one right.’
Luiz was one of a number of Arsenal players to send a message to Emery following his sacking.
He wrote on Twitter: ‘Sad day for everybody, especially because we let you down boss, sorry!
‘Thank you and the amazing staff for everything! You are a hard worker, passionate for football and a big example always, doesn’t matter the results!
‘Good luck for the future, Unai Emery.’
Following’s Emery’s departure, Keown has urged his former club to appoint a ‘winner’ as the next Arsenal manager.
‘In the end, Unai Emery’s sacking felt inevitable,’ he added. ‘The club was in a sad, shambolic state.
‘Arsenal have been in relegation form domestically and their Europa League defeat by Eintracht Frankfurt – a side sitting 10th in the Bundesliga – meant the club’s hierarchy had to react.
‘Now they have to nail who they bring in as Emery’s long-term replacement. In recent history, Arsenal’s brand of football has been admired around the world.
‘It is about being quick, imaginative, free flowing. Under Arsene Wenger, it could also come with a steeliness, a back bone, a toughness.
‘But all of that has disappeared and Arsenal need to rediscover their identity.
‘The board need to find a manager who has the right beliefs, the necessary desire, communication levels and charisma for a club of this stature. They need a winner.’
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