Mikel Arteta's Arsenal lack characters and leaders, says former Gunners goalkeeper Alex Manninger... who played with the likes of Martin Keown, Tony Adams and Patrick Vieira during his five-year stint in north London

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Manninger says Mikel Arteta's side lack the type of characters and leadership which the club were renowned for.

The Austrian played with the likes of Martin Keown, Tony Adams, Patrick Vieira and Dennis Bergkamp during his five-year stint from 1997 to 2002.

He told talkSPORT: 'I remember the player's characters like Martin Keown, Tony Adams, Nigel Winterburn, Dennis Bergkamp, all the French players that came in and brought quality, brought leadership in.

'[They're] missing that [now], missing the character of each player.