A collection of Emirates Stadium stars who need to be offloaded as soon as possible.
With it looking increasingly likely that Arsenal’s hopes of securing either a domestic league title or a Champions League triumph it would be all too easy to lay the lion’s share of the blame on boss Arsene Wenger, however there are also a fair amount of players who deserve criticism as well.
Here are ten players the North London club should sell or release before the 2014/15 season gets underway.
Mikel Arteta
The Spaniard has had a shocking season and it’s unclear exactly what he offers Arsenal. At his best the former Everton man can repel opposition advances whilst offering a goal threat in the final third. This term however he’s looked off the pace and made too many schoolboy errors. Past his best and Mathieu Flamini is a far superior defensively minded option.
Abou Diaby
Injury prone French midfielder has consistently failed to deliver when called upon and it must surely be time for Arsene Wenger to offload the French international whilst he can still harbour hopes of securing some sort of fee for his services.
Nicklas Bendtner
The Dane was drafted back into the Arsenal squad simply by virtue of Arsene Wenger’s stubborn unwillingness to invest in a new striking option. The big forward is woefully inadequate for a team looking to secure major honours.
Thomas Vermaelen
Now a back-up player and the Belgian must be keen on leaving as he is too good a player to be wasting away on the bench. Worth selling for a decent fee and then Wenger can bring in a youthful pretender who can keep Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny on their toes.
Lukas Podolski
German just doesn’t deliver. On his day the German forward should be one of the best in the business and last term he weighed in with game-winning contributions whilst this term he’s barely been used and when fully fit you are often left surprised that he’s even been selected, such have been some of his anonymous displays.
Ryo Miyaichi
Was considered the ‘Next Big Thing’ when he burst onto the scene but has failed to impress Wenger sufficiently over the course of three years at Arsenal, so is it worth endlessly loaning out such a talent? Why not just sell the Japanese international if he’s not good enough? Thus far been trusted with 18 minutes of Premier League action for the Gunners…
Bacary Sagna
Now this is a contentious one. If, as reports suggest, the 30 year old wants a massive pay-rise to stay at the club then perhaps it’s time Arsene Wenger called his bluff. Youngster Carl Jenkinson, if raw, is a capable replacement for the French international. With no deal agreed with Sagna just a few months shy of his contract expiring one has to assume he isn’t committed to the club, so let him leave.
Park Chu-Young
Quite how the South Korean is still at the club is a mystery, clearly he should never have been purchased in the first place. The signing of the then 26 year old AS Monaco man has to rank as one of the strangest Arsene Wenger has ever made. Now on loan at Watford, made his first start against Bolton, the Hornets lost and he was hauled off on the hour.
Johan Djourou
Currently on loan at Hamburg and seemingly keen to remain at the German club. Worth noting that with Djourou in their side Hannover, where the Swiss international spent half of last season, conceded 62 goals, only two managed to let-in more. A move to Hamburg seems to have had a similar effect. A team that last term finished seventh now sits third from bottom have conceding more than any other side. Coincidence?
Lukasz Fabianski
Similar case to Thomas Vermaelen. The Polish international is too good to be left warming the bench and his presence may prevent a younger option coming through. Fabianski has proven in cup competitions that he is a quality custodian but just isn’t better than fellow countryman Wojciech Szczesny.
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