Times Sport chief football writer Henry Winter says Mikel Arteta is not the right man to take over from Arsene Wenger.
The Spaniard has been heavily linked with a move back to the Emirates to take on the role of manager.
But Winter says someone like Diego Pablo Simeone is what the Gunners need if they are to aim for silverware next season.
"Arsenal need a complete clear out - they need a strong, experienced, individual to address the failings," he said on The Sunday Supplement.
"Someone needs to go in and sort out that dressing room, to get rid of Shkodran Mustafi and to coach Hector Bellerin.
"How many world class players are there in that squad? Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang?
"They need a Diego Simeone type.
"Someone who is tough and can get into that soft dressing room, that soft boardroom - there is a soft executive feel at that club. There is a malaise that runs right through the club, which won't be solved by Wenger going - he was only partly the cause of it.
"They need stronger individuals in there."
