Robert Pires: 'Arsenal need to buy English players'

Former Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires believes that Arsene Wenger needs to stay at the club and build his team around English players.

The Frenchman was part of the 'Invincible' Gunners' team that won the Premier League in 2004 without losing a single game but believes that despite that side's multi-national core, the future for Arsenal is in home-grown players.

"Wenger built Arsenal so he is very important to the players and needs to stay," Pires told Sky Sports News.

"In my opinion I think Arsenal need to buy English players. Wenger has changed the philosophy at the club, he brought in young players like Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey.

"These players are very good for the future but now they need to buy some players with experience to give a good mix."

Pires made 282 appearances for the Gunners in his six-year spell at the club.