Former Arsenal Legend Ray Parlour is back in the news, after declaring to talkSport that manager Arsene Wenger should set his sites on departing West Ham captain Scott Parker.

“I reckon Arsenal need three players,” Parlour told talkSport.

“Scott Parker is going at West Ham, bring him in, he’d be excellent just in front of the back four and there’s an opportunity to get him.”

Parlour also felt that the Gunners needed to sign a solid centerback, and if possible, a new striker as well.

“They also need somebody at the back who can play centre-half, a real stopper like a Sol Campbell, who puts his body there and makes sure Arsenal don’t concede goals. If they can get someone like that it would be excellent. They also need a striker as well but they’ve got a decent squad and they’ll have a chance.”

As far as Scott Parker is concerned, I have to agree, he would be an excellent addition. Parker can provide cover for Alex Song, maybe even challenge him for first choice. Parker can also fill the box-to-box role that Wilshere stepped into last season. Many people think he is not needed, that he is too old, or over hyped, but the reality is that in no way does having Scott Parker make Arsenal a worse club. As I’ve said before, when did having depth start becoming a bad thing?

Gervinho Looks forward to new Challenge

Elsewhere Gervinho looks to have closed in on signing for Arsenal, and is looking forward to featuring right away for the Gunners. According to Sky Sports, Gervinho is not worried about having to fight for playing time, although does admit he has more to learn.

“I chose Arsenal because it’s a young group within which I will be able to integrate easily,” said Gervinho. “I could develop more over there. There’s only a few details left to sort out.”

On the risk of not getting regular playing time: “A risk? Not at all. I’m going to Arsenal to play. The best risk to take is to look to score goals and to play a lot. In football you have to take risks if you want to win. I’m going to Arsenal to win.”

I look forward to seeing what Gervinho is capable of, and hopefully he find great success as a goal-scorer for Arsenal. That seems to be his mission, and if there is one thing missing from Arsenal, its a player who just wants to score every time he touches the ball. If he can become that player, I think he will be a success.

Hector Bellerin Reveals Ambition

And lastly, Sky Sports is reporting that 16-year-old Hector Bellerin has revealed why he chose to move from Barcelona to join Arsenal: First-team football.

“But after evaluating things I decided to join Arsenal. When you want to be a professional you have to look to make your way. And I believe the right path for me was to choose Arsenal,” said Bellerin.

“We met Mr Wenger and it went so well. It was all too much for me but I paid full attention to everything he said. When there is a team that guarantees you can play in the first team and above all in the Premier League, then it is very difficult to say no.”

I have to admit, I did a double and even triple-take at that last sentence. Now, it is important to not that Bellerin never specified when he was promised first team football, merely that it would happen. So hopefully Arsene was referring to down-the-road, and not this coming year.

All indications point to Bellerin being a wonderful talent and a future star, but in a summer where most critics and fans are begging for experienced talent to be added to the squad, hearing that a 16-year-old has been promised first team football in the Premier League, sometime in the near future, doesn’t inspire much confidence that Arsene is planning to break from his youth-oriented gameplan anytime soon.

As always, whether you agree with me or not, I invite you to let your thoughts be known in our newly-launched Arsenal Forum!