More than most clubs, a major revamp is surely needed at Arsenal this summer, with high numbers of ins and outs looking essential for Unai Emery to continue his progress with the team.
The Spanish tactician has inherited a difficult squad from his predecessor Arsene Wenger, and done alright so far, though fans will quickly be demanding much better.
Here’s our look through the current Gunners squad with our verdict on which players need to be kept, sold, loaned out, and so on…
Petr Cech – RETIRING
Well that makes that decision easier. Well past his best now, Petr Cech would have been an obvious SELL if he weren’t already hanging up his gloves at the end of this season.
Hector Bellerin – KEEP
A bit too injury prone and not progressing as many will have hoped, but there’s no doubt Hector Bellerin must be kept at the club for now.
Mohamed Elneny – SELL
Never really looked cut out for this level, Mohamed Elneny is surely going to be one of the names on the transfer list this summer.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos – KEEP
Sokratis Papastathopoulos made a bit of a wobbly start but has proven a fine signing for Arsenal this season, a definite one to keep.
Laurent Koscielny – KEEP
He’s ageing, but he’s still one of Arsenal’s best players. Laurent Koscielny may not play as much next season, but undoubtedly needs to be kept around for at least a little while longer.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan – SELL
A disappointing flop, Henrikh Mkhitaryan just hasn’t delivered the goods since his move from Manchester United last season. While the Armenian seemed an ideal signing for Arsenal’s style of play, it’s probably now time to give up on him and get those wages off the bill.
Aaron Ramsey – LEAVING
Sad, but true, Aaron Ramsey has bizarrely been allowed to leave and has already agreed a transfer to Juventus when his contract expires at the end of the season.
Alexandre Lacazette – KEEP
Somewhat surprisingly, reports from football.london earlier this season suggested Arsenal could be open to selling Alexandre Lacazette if the right offer comes along, with Emery not keen on playing two up front together too often. This would be a terrible idea, with the Frenchman an emphatic KEEP for us.
Mesut Ozil – KEEP
It’s been suggested by the Mail and others that Mesut Ozil could be one Arsenal player on his way out this summer, and that would make sense after a difficult season of playing a lot less under Emery.
However, we’re firmly of the belief that a club in a transitional period like Arsenal need world class creative players like Ozil. The German has often looked missed in games he hasn’t played in, and is just the kind of no.10 players like Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will benefit from having behind them.
Lucas Torreira – KEEP
An obvious one, with Lucas Torreira enjoying a fine first season in north London and looking like becoming a key player for the club for years to come.
Stephan Lichtsteiner – RELEASE
A pretty desperate signing, and his performances have simply not been good enough. Signed a one-year contract, and that’s more than enough.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – KEEP
A superb poacher who’s in with a shot of the Golden Boot this season. Selling is simply not an option.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles – KEEP
Not the finished product yet by any means, but Ainsley Maitland-Niles has shown a lot of promise this season and should be kept around for a bit longer to see how he develops. At worst, a loan move might be worth considering, but that depends on who comes in.
Rob Holding – KEEP
Injuries have held Rob Holding back for much of his Arsenal career, but he should definitely be kept around to see if he can improve and contribute more next season.
Alex Iwobi – SELL
This might not be a popular choice, but Alex Iwobi has had more than enough chances now to show what he can do, having been a first-team regular since all the way back in 2015/16. Despite some early promise, it’s debatable if he’s really improved since then, and we’d certainly try to get a decent fee for him now and make new signings in attack, or promote youngsters like Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe to get in ahead of him.
Nacho Monreal – KEEP
An important, experienced defender, Nacho Monreal has often been linked with a return to Spain, but he should be kept around if he wants to stay.
Bernd Leno – KEEP
A solid first season from goalkeeper Bernd Leno, who will hope to improve next season but deserves the chance to show he can.
Shkodran Mustafi – SELL
Where to start with this guy? How he’s survived at AFC this long is beyond us, but if the club can find any buyers this summer, he’s got to go, for virtually any price. The Gunners will surely make a huge loss on this expensive flop, but having him and his shocking errors in the team any longer is simply not an option.
Denis Suarez – RETURN TO SENDER
A very disappointing loan signing who is surely already aware he’s going to be heading back to Barcelona before being shipped off somewhere else.
Danny Welbeck – RELEASE
Danny Welbeck probably could’ve been a very good player if not for injuries, but it’s time for Arsenal to move on and realise he can’t be what they need him to be. The former Manchester United man will be at the end of his contract this summer, and a new deal is surely out of the question.
Carl Jenkinson – RELEASE
Another player approaching the end of his contract, Carl Jenkinson has been at Arsenal for far too long for a player of his limited ability, and it’s time to show him the door this summer.
Konstantinos Mavropanos – LOAN
A decent young player, but Konstantinos Mavropanos looks to have gone backwards a little after a lengthy injury. The Greek starlet could now really do with a loan move to get back to his best without burdening Arsenal while he works to get back to a high enough level.
Matteo Guendouzi – KEEP
One of the finest young players in Europe, Matteo Guendouzi should stay and continue to be a key part of the first-team next season.
Sead Kolasinac – KEEP
Not everyone’s cup of tea, but Sead Kolasinac can fill a variety of roles pretty well and it would be hard to find a worthwhile replacement for anything like a reasonable fee. Keep, for now.
Granit Xhaka – SELL
Another slightly controversial one here given his progress under Emery, but Granit Xhaka should be moved on if a good offer comes in this summer.
The Switzerland international could well be a fine player for an Everton, Leicester or West Ham, but he’s just not of the standard required for a club trying to get to where Arsenal want to be. He’s had enough chances now and hasn’t quite improved enough to justify staying on as a regular.