Arsenal are in for a tough summer. Plenty to deal with after having finished outside the top four for the first time in 20 years. The lack of Champions League football will present them with a serious challenge to keep their more ambitious players, but should they somehow succeed in convincing their star-men to stay, they will have an improved chance of winning the weaker Europa League. And as Jose Mourinho would testify, no trophy is an unnecessary trophy.
Here are 10 cases that will need to be sorted out in the summer:
#10 Yaya Sanogo
Sanogo is a man of peculiar contradictions. His lack of consistency up front has been disturbing: one goal from 37 shots in 20 appearances for the first team. But just when you think he is down and out, he bags a hat-trick or two; unfortunately, in youth games.
It seems Sanogo’s time at Arsenal is likely to end. At 24, he’s had plenty of chances to impress the boss and secure a place in the first team. Now it seems both club and player have resigned to the fact that they will part ways as no new attempts have been made to extend his contract which runs out this June.
#9 Nacho Monreal
Monreal’s only goal for Arsenal could prove to be season-saving. That’s how important it was. His career at the club was on the line until that goal in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City. The Spaniard will have a fight on his hands next season with the imminent arrival of Sead Kolasinac on a free transfer.
While he drew criticism for most of the season after Wenger’s switch in formation, he planted his roots as a good link between defence and attack and this just might convince Wenger to give him another year despite his age.
#8 Mathieu Debuchy
Whatever happened to Debuchy? The right-back played 10 games in his first season for Arsenal after joining from Newcastle in 2014. It’s been doom and gloom since then.
He’s still got two years left on his contract, but his last two years at Arsenal have mainly comprised of him visiting the club doctor on the way back from the bank to collect his £70, 000 a week.
The only positive thing about him is that his injuries have given way to Hector Bellerin’s emergence. For the benefit of both the club and himself, Debuchy must leave in the summer.
#7 Per Mertesacker
Mertesacker activated his one-year extension in January to stretch his stay at the Emirates until 2018, which is weird because his sole game for Arsenal came against Everton on the final day of the League.
Perhaps his fruitful partnership with Laurent Koscielny for Arsenal in the prior years has come to an end with the arrival of the much younger Shkodran Mustafi.
Despite the long absence from the pitch this season, it is obvious Wenger still values the German’s influence in the dressing room. I won’t be surprised to see the man who is currently re-defining the role of the football captain, stay beyond 2018 but as a member of staff.
#6 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is, kind of, the polar opposite of Theo Walcott. They are similar in many ways, but differ in what they are willing to give on the pitch for Arsenal. Oxlade-Chamberlain has given plenty to justify claims that he deserves to play a more central role for this club. Unfortunately for him, he’s still Wenger’s mini-experiment as the manager prefers to play him wide.
Securing his signature is not all down to the board. Chamberlain’s ambition is perhaps on the verge of outgrowing the club’s. His future is likely to be tied to external factors, such as whether Arsenal will succeed in keeping Ozil and Sanchez, and Wenger’s plans for him on the pitch.
#5 Theo Walcott
Walcott has failed to live up to the expectations and seems to be a component of Arsenal’s old identity that some want to shake off. On top of that, he’s earning as much as Arsenal’s two best players - £140,000 a week.
He has still managed to score 19 goals in all competitions this season, but he rarely turned up when it mattered and that has led many to question his passion and big-game ability on the pitch.
Walcott is not an immediate problem as there are other more urgent matters at Arsenal, but should Wenger be left with an extra hour or two, he might reach for the phone to free up some resources.
#4 Jack Wilshere
Jack Wilshere presents a complex problem. After two seasons in which he barely managed to record five games due to long-term injury setbacks, he was sent to Bournemouth to rebuild his confidence.
He seemed to be doing just that, making 27 appearances for the seaside club, until his familiar enemy struck again - another long-term injury. It’s been nine frustrating years for Wilshere since he broke into the first team – out of those, he’s managed to complete only four relatively uninterrupted seasons.
It seems this summer will be another crossroad for club and player. Should Wilshere be sold, Wenger would need to look to the transfer market for a replacement.
#3 Lucas Perez
Perez has got something to be upset about. In the 22 games Wenger gave him this season, mainly as a substitute, he rarely failed to produce the goods and even scored a hat-trick against Basel in the Champions League group stages. But that changed nothing as he found himself getting familiarised with the bench as the season progressed.
If at the start Perez gave us the impression that he is a potential 20+ goal scorer, now it’s all too obvious he was simply a part of some convoluted business deal that had nothing to do with football. He’s not been given the game time he deserves and is highly likely to see him leave this summer, while his coal is still hot.
#2 Alexis Sanchez
There are no two ways about it; Alexis Sanchez deserves more than his current £140,000 a week. He is clearly Arsenal’s best player. He now has 71 goals in 155 games over three seasons and is clearly en route to making a mark in the club’s history should he choose it. Losing him will raise questions over the club’s ambitions.
Also read: An open letter to Alexis Sanchez from an Arsenal fan
Unfortunately, it’s not only about money with him. He wants to win trophies too and that puts the club in a tough spot because they have to spend more to strengthen the squad.
If it is true that they offered Sanchez £300,000 a week, then at least they can’t be blamed for not trying to hold onto to him. There is a minefield of summer negotiations coming up, and it looks like Arsenal will be at a huge disadvantage due to their lack of Champions League football next season. It will eventually be down to the player’s wishes.
#1 Mesut Ozil
Ozil gives a slightly milder headache to Arsenal than his Chilean team-mate. He is after a similar weekly remuneration, which based on his form this season seems like an extortion. But this is slightly deceiving.
What Ozil can brag about is having accumulated 43 assists in the Premier League in three years, and this is by no means unimpressive bearing in mind that Dennis Bergkamp managed 49 in his time.
From the club’s point of view, he is a player to build on, but should it come to choosing between Sanchez and Ozil, the German is sure to lose. Whoever goes, a scoop in the transfer market for the right replacement is going to be required.
