Arsenal ought to be trying to join the race for Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake, says Paul Merson.

The versatile Netherlands international continues to come up with lots of transfer talk despite not moving on within the January transfer window.

Chelsea have a £40 million ($52m) choice to take the 24-year-old back to Stamford Bridge , whereas Tottenham are aforesaid to be mulling over a big-money bid within the summer.

Merson believes Arsenal got to be joining their London rivals in any scramble for a sought-after signature, with there still problems for the Gunners to handle at the back.

He told Sky Sports of the achievement needs at Emirates Stadium: “They want a centre half and a world-class holding midfielder.

“I assume Arsenal need to play with a back 3. They’re not good enough as defenders to play as a four.

“Ake has pace and he’s played in England for a while, therefore if you brought him in for next season he’s not a player who will want time to get used to the league for 6 months.

“Arsenal got to hit the ground running [next season] and everyone has to understand their jobs within the team.”

Merson isn’t the first former Arsenal star to recommend that Ake ought to figure prominently on Mikel Arteta’s wish list.

Stewart Robson expressed throughout the winter window that the Netherlander would be a decent fit for the Gunners.

He told Love Sport Radio : “I still assume Nathan Ake is good player.

“There’s talk about him going back to Chelsea because they’ll buy him for a certain value however he’s a very smart centre-half.

“He’s not the biggest but he is got smart spring and that i assume he’s the type of player Arteta will like.

“He would be my alternative coming in from Bournemouth.”

Ake has taken in over one hundred appearances for the Cherries since 1st linking up with them on loan from Chelsea within the 2016-17 campaign.

He is tied to a contract at the Vitality sports stadium through to the summer of 2022.