EPL: EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR INSTRUCTS ARTETA TO STICK WITH HIS 'DISAPPOINTING' DEFENSE

Emmanuel Adebayor, a former Manchester City striker, has advised Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on one of the strategies he believes will help the Spaniard overcome the Citizens on Wednesday.

Despite their dismal performance against Southampton, Adebayor wants Arteta to stay with the same back four against Manchester City on Wednesday.

It is shocking, however, considering a number of experts have criticized the Arsenal central defense pairing of Gabriel Magalhaes and Rob Holdings in the absence of William Saliba.

Arsenal have not been the same since Frenchman Saliba was hurt in their Europa League final 16 match against Sporting CP on March 16.

The Gunners have surrendered seven goals and dropped six points in their three Premier League games.

But Adebayor, a former Arsenal striker, wants the Gunners to stay with a back four of Ben White, Rob Holding, Gabriel, and Oleksandr Zinchencko.

"Even if the entire defense was disappointing against Southampton on Friday, I would leave it at this back four.

"For six weeks and the injury to William Saliba, Arteta has been playing in this basic formation and allowing the automatic attacks to take hold. Maybe the Gunners had their heads in the Etihad, though that's in no way an excuse," he said.