Ex-Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour believes West Ham's Scott Parker would be the ideal signing for his former club.

GettyImagesArsenal could add some much-needed grit to their midfield if they swoop for Scott Parker

Despite West Ham suffering relegation to the Championship, Parker excelled and earned a recall to the England squad before being named the FWA Footballer of the Year.

And, following reports that Parker - who has partnered the Gunners' Jack Wilshere in midfield for England - is looking for a return to the Premier League, Parlour was keen to encourage Arsenal to make any such move.

"Scott Parker is going at West Ham, bring him in, he'd be excellent just in front of the back four and there's an opportunity to get him," Parlour told talkSPORT.

Parlour also feels another of Arsenal's priorities should be to strengthen their defence - believing manager Arsene Wenger should look for someone in the Sol Campbell-mould - as well as bringing in another striker, even though he believes the squad is still 'decent'.

"They also need somebody at the back who can play centre-half, a real stopper like a Sol Campbell, who puts his body there and makes sure Arsenal doesn't concede goals. If they can get someone like that it would be excellent,'' he said.

"They also need a striker but they've got a decent squad and they'll have a chance [next season]. Every Arsenal fan out there who is a little bit worried, don't panic just yet as there's a long way to go before the start of the season.

"I'm just hoping they can find that right player or right players to really push them to challenge Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool who will be strong next year."