EXCLUSIVE: Wenger must hire Bould as Arsenal’s new No.2, says Dixon

Arsene Wenger has been urged to recruit Steve Bould to be his new Arsenal No.2 once Pat Rice quits the role at the end of this season.

Arsenal legend Lee Dixon has called for his former team-mate Bould to be handed the role just a day after the Gunners were humiliated with a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of AC Milan in the Champions League.

Wenger’s abject outfit were appalling in the San Siro with the back four looking decidedly dodgy throughout an embarrassing 90 minutes which almost certainly means the Gunners Euro campaign has come to a halt.

Wenger tore into his misfiring side after the capitulation and the French manager is under increasing pressure in his job in the light of the result, both from miffed fans and pundits.

Now Dixon reckons ex-central defender Bould, a youth team coach at the Emirates, would be perfect to bring in to replace the retiring Rice – afte 42 years’ service to the club – and bring with him his vast amount of knowledge on the art of defending.

He told Arsenalinsider: “I’ve always advocated Steve Bould be promoted from the youth into a positiion under Arsene Wenger at that first team level. He has an awful lot to offer.

“I played with Steve for many years both at Stoke and Arsenal and I think he has everything needed to progress to the first team.

“There has been a problem over the last few years for Arsenal not just the back four but their defensively mentality and he has that experience in abundance and I am sure with the defenders that they have got having Steve around would be perfect for the team.”

Arsenal must now raise their game ahead of the FA Cup clash atSunderlandon Saturday if they are to keep their hopes of lifting a trophy this season.

*Lee Dixon is football ambassador for betting exchange Betfair, the home of value.

CARL ELDRIDGE – not on Twitter a lot today for obvious reasons @eldomedia