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Football London
Football London
Sport
Louie Chandler

Mikel Arteta told Arsenal 'have to sign' their own Virgil van Dijk to compete with Liverpool

Jamie Carragher has told Arsenal that their next transfers have to take them to a new level in a similar way to the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson at Liverpool.

Mikel Arteta's men have impressed this season and, following a shocking start to the campaign, sit three points clear in the final qualifying spot for the 2022-23 Champions League with a game in hand over both Tottenham and Manchester United.

Last summer saw the Gunners splash over £140 million on new signings including the likes of Ben White, Aaron Ramsdale and the permanent transfer of Martin Odegaard. But Carragher has told Arteta and director of football Edu that their next signings need to be of a level that can take them to another level once again.

READ MORE: New Champions League rules to have major effect on Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and West Ham

"Arsenal need to get fourth," Carragher said during The Overlap's latest live event. "When you liken it to what Klopp did at Liverpool.... Arsenal are at a stage where they haven't got a Ronaldo, they haven't got a Kane. The next two or three signings for Arsenal have to be Alisson, have to be Van Dijk, what they were for Liverpool.

"To take you from sort of fighting for the top four to making that jump where you're competing with City, Liverpool, right at this moment Chelsea. That's Arsenal's next thing."

Edu and Arteta have shown they have an eye for a transfer already, with White, Ramsdale and Odegaard all becoming integral members of this new look Arsenal side. The signing of a striker will likely be a priority come the summer with both Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah set to leave on free transfers following Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's January exit.

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