With the ineffective Spaniard failing to make the grade this term, here are five players we feel could do a much better job for the Emirates Stadium side.
Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen)
Rangy German international has long been linked with a move to Arsenal and after five years at the BayArena the 24 year old may well be ready for a fresh challenge, especially if Bayer Leverkusen fail to secure a Champions League berth for next term.
Arsenal failed with an offer of £19m last term but the chances of a similar bid this summer succeeding would be increased if indeed Sascha Lewandowski’s side do not secure a top four finish.
Crafty and inventive the tireless runner may also be motivated to join the Gunners by the presence of national team colleagues Lukas Podolski, Per Mertesacker and Mesut Ozil.
Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton)
Having helped the Saints from League One to the Premier League it’s safe to say that the French battler has more than proven himself capable of impressing in the English top tier and the next logical career step would be a move to a ‘bigger’ side, a move that could help secure his first national team cap and therefore a move to the Emirates Stadium would make a great deal of sense.
St Mary’s boss Mauricio Pochettino faces a real fight to keep the nucleus of the side that has performed so well this season and if one leaves then a domino effect could come into play.
Schneiderlin may be just 24 but he has already racked up over 200 appearances for Southampton.
Marco Verratti (PSG)
Talented young Italian ball-winner is struggling to make a name for himself at the Parc des Princes and could perhaps be considering his future at PSG.
The 21 year old has already been linked with interest from Arsenal and constant talk of Laurent Blanc’s interest in Juventus star Paul Pogba may well lead Verratti to believe he isn’t vital to his side’s long term plans.
Claudio Marchisio (Juventus)
Said to be unsettled at Juventus the Italian international is a top quality player who has a lot to offer. The 28 year old is not as much of a regular as he has been in recent seasons with the likes of Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba being first on Antonio Conte’s team-sheet.
Plenty of top level experience and has the craft and guile to make things happen, very comfortable on the ball and in many ways a Wenger-style player.
Mohamed Diame (West Ham)
Maybe not a like for like replacement but the West Ham man can certainly serve as a box to box performer and may be a more direct option than Arteta and a player could offer more drive to the Arsenal midfield.
Available for as little as £3.5m there is no doubting Diame’s ability at Premier League level and is perhaps a realistic acquisition that Arsene Wenger may be tempted to register his interest in.
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