Arsenal have had a rollercoaster of a season. They’ve had 3 different managers, finished 8th in the league and won the FA Cup. Nobody had expected this last year when the season began. Here are 7 players in the current squad that Arsenal need to keep at any cost, and 7 players that need to make way for new recruits.
7 Players Arsenal Must Keep at Any Cost
Pierre Emerick Aubameyang
The striker is definitely the best player at the club by a country mile, arguably the best striker in England. Some Arsenal fans have even gone on record to say that Aubameyang is the best striker in the world at the moment.
Kieran Tierney
The Scot has been Arsenal’s best defender this season, mainly featuring as a left wing-back ahead of three defenders.
Bukayo Saka
The young Englishman has had an amazing breakthrough season under Mikel Arteta. Saka has shown his class every time he has stepped on the pitch this season.
Nicholas Pepe
The winger has been called a ‘flop’ by several football fans but those who have watched him throughout the season know that he is one of the best players around. His dribbling and skills are unmatched and he has a solid eye for a goal.
Gabriel Martinelli
Until last year, Martinelli was playing in Brazil’s second division for Ituano. Manchester United rejected him after a trial. Arsenal swooped him up, and he’s now one of the most promising young players in Europe. The young Brazilian did not feature for the Gunners after the restart as he was injured, but next season, Martinelli will definitely be a top player for the London outfit.
Emi Martinez
After 10 years at the club, Martinez finally got the chance to prove himself after Bernd Leno got injured. He has since been solid at the back, and his performances have impressed and surprised every Arsenal fan. It won’t be easy to hold on to the Argentine as other clubs might start bidding for him, and he would not stay at the club only to play second fiddle to the German.
Dani Ceballos
The Spaniard is on loan from Real Madrid. He is one of Mikel Arteta’s favorite players at the club and it looks like the Gunners might buy him permanently from Madrid.
Here are 7 Players Arsenal Must Sell at Any Cost
Shkodran Mustafi
Mustafi is probably the most underrated player at Arsenal, but it looks like his time at the Emirates is about to end next transfer window as Arsenal need to generate funds for new transfers.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos
The 32-year-old should be on the top of Mikel Arteta’s sell-list. After underperforming and making several errors this season, it looks like the Greek’s time in London is about to end.
Matteo Guendouzi
Mikel Arteta has exiled the 21-year-old after misbehaving on the pitch. Guendouzi is an excellent player, but sadly for Arsenal fans, he is most definitely leaving the club next transfer window.
Mesut Ozil
The German has not featured for Mikel Arteta since the restart. He has been sitting on a massive wage of 350k a week. Club management allowed him to travel to Turkey on the day of the FA Cup final, even though he was 100% fit. Either he should start playing (and performing well) or move on.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Mkhitaryan is probably one of Arsenal’s worst transfers in recent years. He came in a swap deal for Alexis Sanchez. He did not perform under Unai Emery and was subsequently loaned out to AS Roma in Italy. It is extremely likely that Mkhitaryan’s move to Roma will be made permanent.
Mohamed Elneny
On loan at Besiktas, Elneny never firmly made his place in the Arsenal first team. He might be one of the players that will be sold to generate funds for other transfers.
Dejan Iliev
Ever heard of him Arsenal fans? I guess not. The 25-year-old goalkeeper has been at the club for more than 8 years! In his 8 years at the club, Iliev has made no top-flight appearances. It won’t be surprising if Arsenal sells him in the next transfer window to generate funds.
