Arsenal legend Charlie Nicholas has criticized the Gunners for not signing former Chelsea captain Gary Cahill or Manchester United defence ace Chris Smalling last summer.

The Unai Emery-tutored side had the chance of signing Cahill for free, but opted for his controversial teammate David Luiz.

The Brazilian completed a surprise deadline day move to the Emirates from Chelsea in an £8milllion deal.

Now, Nicholas told Sky Sports: “Arsenal don’t sign personalities.

“Sadly I have to go way back to David Dein and he would sit down with Arsene Wenger and ask what kind of character he was singing. That’s gone now.

“It’s as if Arsenal sign players because they are desperate.

“Why not – and I don’t know how much he would have cost – go and get Chris Smalling from Manchester United in the summer before he went to Roma?

“Because he’d be better than what they had. They could’ve had Gary Cahill from Chelsea and sat him in the defence.”