Mikel Arteta has £180m to spend this summer(Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal could go backwards next season unless they sign four ‘big, experienced leaders’ this summer.

That’s according to Tony Adams, who fears Arsenal peaked this season in leading the Premier League table for so long.

Arsenal were leaders for virtually the entire season, until they collapsed during the run-in.

Manchester City ended up winning the title by five points, despite Arsenal having an eight-point lead just three weeks earlier.

Mikel Arteta wants to rectify the weaknesses in his squad by signing Declan Rice, while a new right-back is also of interest.

But Adams says Arsenal need far more in the transfer market, or they could regress next season.
Adams fears Arsenal could go backwards next season (Picture: SkySports)

‘So if Arsenal want to push on from here, they have to sign four big, experienced leaders this summer,’ said Adams.

‘Declan Rice could certainly be one of those, but if I?m going to spend £100million on one player, I want a Jack Grealish type of player who is going to give me goals and assists, not a holding midfielder.

‘The problem is that Arsenal want players who are already acclimatised to English football and they?re always going to be overpriced when you buy from your Premier League rivals.

‘Ben White cost £50m and we still don?t know if he is meant to be a centre...