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LONDON. — Former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore has unleashed a scathing undressing of Arsenal’s squad as Arsene Wenger stutters in the transfer market.

Having already seen Jamie Vardy snub the Gunners ahead of a proposed £20million move, the north London club have seen the likes of Gonzalo Higuain and Mauro Icardi slip through their fingers in the pursuit for a goalscorer.

Granit Xhaka remains the only high-profile recruit having completed his £30m move from Borussia Mönchengladbach earlier this summer but he, just like Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, are not “of the highest level”, according to Collymore.

“I still believe that Wenger’s team could be right in the top-four mix, I only think that will ­happen if they sign a boss central ­defender and/or a boss ­central ­striker, otherwise they could just as easily miss out,” Collymore wrote in the Sunday Mirror.

“That, for a team which relies on finishing in the Champions League spots season in, ­season out, would be a disaster. It would also, I’m sorry to say, leave Wenger’s reputation shredded to bits.

“It is as clear as day to the rest of us what Wenger’s squad needs, yet for some reason he is so stubborn with the Emirates chequebook. Sol Campbell, you could argue. He ­offered great ­defensive stability.”

“But I still don’t feel Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez or Granit Xhaka are of the highest level. They’re very good ­players. Xhaka is the right type of signing, ­mobile and aggressive.

“But his arrival didn’t light up the eyes of Arsenal fans in the same way that Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s did with Manchester United’s, or Paul Pogba’s will do, if his deal gets done.

“Wenger could have done it with Luis Suarez, the Uruguayan could be banging in goals for Arsenal now rather than Barcelona.

“Wenger and his Arsenal ­paymasters don’t seem to possess that ruthless streak. We know he has money to spend, but he is unwilling to take risks. But sometimes you have to gamble and pay whatever it takes to get a Gonzalo Higuain or similar striker.

“That’s why Wenger needs those one or two ‘wow’ signings and fast — otherwise Guardiola, ­Mourinho and Conte could taint his legacy forever.” — Metro.