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Arsenal finished outside of the top 4 and more importantly failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time under Arsene Wenger, courtesy of a 5th placed finish last season.
The Frenchman’s future at the helm of the club was uncertain as his contract was due to expire at the end of last season and with the unprecedented unrest among the fans, many believed that the 67-year-old might walk away from his beloved club.
However, Wenger decided to extend his stay at the club by another two years and the board have insisted that they will be proactively looking to improve the club as they bid to challenge for the Premier League title.
While Alexandre Lacazette’s signing has helped address one of the biggest shortcomings in the squad, the Gunners need to get rid of the deadwood that they have to trim down their squad for future more valuable additions.
Here are 5 players who Arsenal need to sell in the transfer window:
#5 Kieran Gibbs
The English full-back has been a part of the Arsenal first-team for close to 10 years now but the time feels right for the 27-year-old to move on to a new challenge. Gibbs has fallen down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium and the arrival of Sead Kolasinac on a free earlier in the window is not going to help his case either.
The English international made only 22 appearances for Arsene Wenger’s side across all competitions last season and it is only going to come down this term. It is being reported that West Bromwich Albion and Watford are interested in the services of the 27-year-old and this provides Arsenal with the ideal opportunity to cash-in on their youth product.
A move away from North London is in the best interest of both the parties and one which should ideally be concluded before the end of the transfer window.
#4 David Ospina
Ospina arrived at Arsenal on the back of an excellent 2014 FIFA World Cup, where he helped his national team reach the quarter-finals of the tournament. The Nice shot-stopper was expected to challenge Wojciech Szczesny for the #1 shirt and the Colombian did well to make 23 appearances for the club in his first season.
However, the arrival of Petr Cech a season later changed the entire complexion of the story and ever since the 28-year-old has been restricted to a bit-part role. The occasional brain fades that Ospina suffers has not helped his case either, nor has his relatively short height.
It is clear that the Colombian is not central to Arsene Wenger’s plans and as such the club should consider selling him at the earliest to help facilitate the growth of Emiliano Martinez as Arsenal’s second-choice shot-stopper.
#3 Carl Jenkinson
Not many players wear their hearts on their sleeve but Carl Jenkinson does so. Arsenal is the boyhood club of the 25-year-old and to have represented the club at the grandest of stages is something that I am sure the English international will be extremely proud of.
However, it is clear that the former Charlton Athletic man doesn’t have a future at the club anymore. Following two decent loan spells with West Ham United it was expected that Jenkinson will compete with or deputize for Hector Bellerin last season but that was hardly the case as he struggled with issues related to confidence and managed to make only 5 appearances for the club last season.
Jenkinson is of the quality to become an integral member of the squad of a mid-table club in the Premier League and that is what he should aim for. Arsenal can also hope to generate some money with his sale, given that he is home grown, and it will also allow Jenkinson to further his career.
#2 Francis Coquelin
A walking red-card if there ever was one.
Francis Coquelin has had a roller-coaster of a career at Arsenal so far. From being on the fringes in the early stages of his career to almost leaving the club in the 2012-13 season, only for him to return midway through a loan spell to play a pivotal role in helping his team finish in the top 4, Coquelin has done it all.
However, it is time that Arsenal consider selling the Frenchman, if they are to challenge for top honours. The 26-year-old has a propensity to dive into unnecessary challenges, earning himself bookings left, right and centre, while there is nothing special about his passing to write home about.
Agreed, being a defensive midfielder, he does not have to be excellent while going forward but the Frenchman is no longer dependable when it comes to his defensive duties also.
Coquelin has reached a point in his career that his progress has stalled and unless something miraculous happens, he is not fit to be an integral member of a part of a team challenging for top honours. Wenger should consider selling the Frenchman and should look for an upgrade on the 26-year-old to help his team cope up with their more accomplished rivals.
#1 Lucas Perez
With almost the entire fanbase demanding Arsene Wenger to sign a striker last season, the Frenchman buckled under the pressure and signed Lucas Perez from Deportivo la Coruna.
The Spaniard was a signing of the mould of a Park-Chu Young, one who was never intended to be an integral part of the squad but was more of a hopeful punt. It was not that the 28-year-old doesn’t have the quality to succeed at the club but it is a case of him not winning the trust of the manager.
Perez did well, if and when his services were called upon, scoring 7 goals in 21 games for the North London outfit and it was almost bizarre that Wenger didn’t use him more extensively last season, especially when the club was struggling with injuries.
However, with firm interest from Spain reported in the services of the Spaniard, Arsenal should sell the 28-year-old and try and recoup some of the money that they splashed on him last season.
