Arsenal Legends Urge Caution Over Clubs January Signing of Denis Suarez

Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith has warned that Denis Suarez may have to accept a role as a squad player in north London after completing a January move to the Emirates from Barcelona.

The Spaniard sealed a move to Arsenal on deadline day in the January transfer window, reuniting with his former manager Unai Emery in the Premier League after seeing his game time at the Camp Nou restricted this season.

​However, Gunners legend Smith has suggested that Suarez could face a similar struggle to in Emery's setup. As quoted by ​Metro, Smith told Sky Sports: "​​Arsenal fans would have loved to have seen a little bit more business in January, but they did manage to bring in Denis Suarez.

"How much will he play though? You would imagine he may be a bit of a squad player.

"Unai Emery knows him from Sevilla, he is versatile, while another young lad in [Emile] Smith Rowe has gone out to Germany to get some game time.

"I do not think Emery would have given up on him and it will be good for his education, so hopefully he can come back a better player."

Former Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman shared a similarly sceptical sentiment in terms of Suarez's signing at the Emirates, as the Gunners hero told talkSPORT, via ​The Metro: "We don't need midfielders, we need defenders.

"We've got big injuries to quite a few of them already, we need good defenders coming in. Emery knows him [Suarez] and likes what he sees, but for me we're crying out for defenders.

"We're great going forward, but what's happening with the defence? It's just not got any better all season. At the moment it's not working. It's frustrating."

Suarez could make his Arsenal debut against former club ​Manchester City on Sunday as the Spaniard seeks to help the Gunners' push for a top four spot for the remainder of the season.