Former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon believes manager Arsene Wenger is doing an exceptional job in charge of the Gunners but has to understand that leaders are needed in the squad.

Speaking to BBC, the Englishman explained that the timing of Stan Kroenke’s move will put more pressure on the Frenchman during the summer transfer window although this will not see a radical change in his philosophy built on keeping a unity in the dressing room.

On what the Gunners need to be competitive next season, Dixon said that someone like A.C. Milan’s Clarence Seedorf is a must, a leader who at the age of 35 knows what it takes to win having played for top European Clubs such as Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Ajax.

The 47-year old concluded by saying that Arsenal are not that far away from lifting trophies but it is important to analyse what went wrong at the end of the season and address the weaknesses like all the goals conceded from set-pieces and cheap points dropped.

Ahead of next season, Dixon said:

I think the timing of the new ownership will probably put more pressure on [Arsene Wenger] in the summer to spend some money and make a couple of big signings.

Will it be the big £50m signings? I don’t think so, I think he will still keep a policy where he doesn’t want to smash the wage structure which is very, very important to him and keep a unity in the dressing room.

But I still think, you look at the team and I just think that they need one or two leaders, some big personalities in there. I mentioned it before – on the radio – maybe someone like a Clarence Seedorf for a couple of years.

He’s been outstanding at A.C. Milan this season, someone who the younger players, even the Fabregas can look at, [someone with] three Champions League medals with three different Clubs.

He’s been there, he’s done it and when the side is up against it they can all look round the pitch and get a few nods and winks, that’s what’s missing.

They are not a million miles away, let’s not get too carried away, but the pressure from outside and [Arsene Wenger] as well, that he hasn’t achieved what he wanted, maybe [he will] change his philosophy, but not drastically.