Former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn confessed he is worried ahead of next season especially if the Gunners lose important elements of the squad.

Speaking to talkSport’s Saggers and Quinny, the 47-year old explained that captain Cesc Fabregas and left-back Gael Clichy will definitely leave adding that it is therefore vital for manager Arsene Wenger to keep midfielder Samir Nasri at the club.

Asked about players joining during the summer transfer window, the Englishman confessed that he has no idea who the players are although reports suggested yesterday that Lille’s Gervinho will be the Gunners’ second signing of the summer.

And, according to Winterburn, English players are a must to get the “English spirit” back and to win the league as with the current squad available to Wenger the Gunners will never win the title especially with Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United reinforcing in the transfer window.

Ahead of next season, the former left-back said:

I am concerned for this season coming. Two players are definitely leaving in Fabregas and Clichy. I’m hoping that Nasri will stay.

But these are worrying times when you look at three players who have been very prominent for the club. My understanding is two of them will be gone very, very shortly and we haven’t heard of any signings coming in.

There are one or two rumours that maybe something will be happening for Arsenal in the next week and a half with players coming, so that’s positive, but we don’t know who those players are.

They need to get two or three English players back into the squad to get that English spirit back, along with the style of football Arsenal have been playing.

If they don’t do that, with the squad they have got at the moment, they are not going to win the league.

Manchester City will strengthen, Chelsea will strengthen, Manchester United have already done it, and I don’t think Arsenal are powerful enough at the moment over 38 games to compete with those teams.