Petit: Arsenal need Wright-Phillips

Emmanuel Petit has urged his former club Arsenal to sign Shaun Wright-Phillips if they want to reclaim the Premiership next season.

Petit believes Arsene Wenger's team have "lost the plot" since their 49-game unbeaten run was ended by Manchester United and argues they should look at replacing either Freddie Ljungberg or Robert Pires.

The 34-year-old Frenchman said: "After a good pre-season they will come back stronger than ever. But if they are to be successful again they need to look at their two wingers.

"Pires and Ljungberg are great players but next year they will be into their thirties, so they need a good young player and that should be Shaun Wright-Phillips. He could be an Arsenal hero like his stepfather. He has everything.

"The secret in the Premiership is to have good wingers. English football is very much about the midfield fight and battle, but with wingers you can add that extra dimension."

Petit, forced to quit the game after failing to recover from a knee injury, added: "Arsenal lost the plot after losing their unbeaten record to Manchester United. They lost their focus completely on the Premiership. Their new target is undoubtedly the Champions League."