The Barcelona striker has struggled to force his way back into the team since recovering from injury, but the Cameroonian believes he would be perfect for Arsene Wenger’s side

Arsenal are lacking a player like Barcelona striker David Villa, according to the side’s former defender Lauren.

The majority of Arsenal’s goals this season have been split between Theo Walcott, Santi Cazorla, Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud, but none of them have surpassed 11 goals so far in the Premier League.

Podolski has managed eight goals in 24 appearances, while Giroud has nine in 26, and Lauren clearly feels they need more in attack as he highlights Villa as an ideal summer signing.

He told La Xarxa: “Arsenal need a striker like Villa. They need that sort of player.

“Villa can get you 15, 20, 25 goals in a season, and that’s what Arsenal need at the moment. Villa has a lot of talent, scores a lot of goals.

“He would do brilliantly at Arsenal. He’d combine well with Monreal, Cazorla and Arteta. He’d fit in with the Spaniards in the dressing room, and the adaptation period would be very quick.”

Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has attracted criticism this season, but Lauren is unsure of whether Arsene Wenger will move for Victor Valdes, who has recently confirmed he will leave Barcelona at the end of his current contract in 2014.

He continued: “[Valdes] would fit in well in any league in the world. Wenger has a lot of confidence in Szczesny, I don’t know if he’ll go for Valdes.”