Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson believes the Gunners need to sign experienced players who know what it means to play in the English Premier League.

Speaking to The Sun, the Englishman confessed that he is a fan of West Ham United’s Scott Parker, by him considered as the best midfielder in the just-ended season. Despite his age, he can be a valuable asset in the Arsenal midfield according to Merson and one to help Jack Wilshere mature.

Asked about the defensive department, the 43-year old added that even back there he would opt for someone who has Premier League experience, like Blackburn’s Christopher Samba, Bolton’s Gary Cahill, or Birmingham City’s Roger Johnson and Scott Dann.

Merson concluded by saying that players coming in should understand that they need to perform from day one rather than using Arsenal as a learning channel in their professional career as the Gunners, next season, simply cannot fail.

Ahead of this summer’s transfer window, Merson said:

[Scott Parker] was the best midfield player in the country last season. Arsenal need to buy players who are going to perform now, not in two or three years because really they haven’t got two or three years to spare.

He might be 30 but you know in the next two years he’s going to bring a trophy to Arsenal because of his energy. He’d also help bring along Jack Wilshere too.

That’s the kind of player who I’d be looking at. He would come in and hit the ground running and it won’t be, ‘Oh well, next year he’ll be better’. Arsenal don’t have next year.

[For the defensive department?] Again I would go with somebody who has played in the Premier League this year, like a Christopher Samba, a Gary Cahill, a Roger Johnson or a Scott Dann.

People who are going to come in and settle straight away, not take six or seven or eight months and be thinking they don’t play like this in Holland or Italy or Germany. This is the hardest league in the world.