Grammatical clarification on ''recognises needs to be crushed'

I'm a bit confused on how the grammar works here in terms of 'recognize', it should be "recognise something", right? What's the role here for 'needs', it's a noun or verb?

Should the sentence be "recognise the arrogance which needs to be crushed" or "recognise the arrogance as needs to be crushed"?

His arrogance, as reflected in his contemptuous statement, “Who is the Lord?” is what God recognizes needs to be crushed.

The sense is his arrogance...is what, [as] God recognises, needs to be crushed.

I don't think it's particularly well expressed. I would prefer is what God recognises as needing to be crushed.