Arsenal’s leaky defence will cost them a place in the Premier League’s top four this season, insists Gunners legend Emmanuel Petit. 

Unai Emery’s side have conceded eight goals already in the top flight this season, including two against Cardiff on Saturday, who until then had failed to score in each of their previous three games.

Centre-half partnership Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis Papasthopolous have looked shaky at the heart of defence, while goalkeeper Petr Cech was heavily criticised for his poor distribution from the back at the weekend.

Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal have also failed to hit top-form, whilst Sead Kolasinac and Lauren Koscielny remain long-term injury problems.

At the other end of the field, strikers Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang look to be forming a fruitful partnership, but Petit insists the duo’s attacking prowess will pay little dividends come the end of the campaign in-front of a lacklustre defence.

“Arsenal’s defence is still a long way from the level needed to compete with the top four teams in the Premier League,” Petit told RMC.

“We saw it again against Cardiff. It is a recurring problem, that dates back years with Arsenal. It has never been fixed, neither by Unai Emery, nor Arsene Wenger, nor the players out on the pitch.

“Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette can score 40 to 50 Premier League goals a season between them if they are picked to start matches.

“But even with these two, Arsenal won’t be able to finish in the top three if they don’t sort out their defensive problems.”