Arsenal are currently shrouded in uncertainty with the future of their manager Arsene Wenger and two superstars, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil up in the air. The Gunners have endured their worst run under Arsene Wenger since the turn of the year and risk missing out on top 4 for the first time in the Frenchman’s 20-year long reign.
While the frailties in the 67-year-old’s management is present for all to see, it is not just the Frenchman who is to blame for the current predicament of the club. The players have to shoulder some blame for this unprecedented collapse and it will be wise on the part of the Gunners to let go of some of their stars if they are to challenge for top honours in the near future.
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Here we look at 5 players who Arsenal need to sell to become competitive again:
#1 Petr Cech
The Arsenal faithful expected big things (amongst which was winning the league title) when Cech made the switch from fierce rivals Chelsea to the Emirates stadium. However, close to 2 years after the transfer, the 34-year-old has continued to decline and there have been signs that he may not be good enough for a top European side anymore.
The Czech international’s vulnerability at the near post is well documents but that is not the only cause of concern for the Gunners. Cech has failed to save any of the penalties that he has faced since making his switch from Stamford Bridge, not only that, the last time he saved a spot-kick was way back in the 2012/13 season.
Apart from the odd howlers, Cech is also susceptible from long range shots and this has proved costly for Wenger’s side in countless games, be it against smaller teams or a heavyweight. It is time Arsenal look at alternatives for the Czech legend, even if they don’t want to spend huge in the department they already have a ready-made replacement in the form of Wojciech Szczesny – who is currently on loan at Roma.
#2 Francis Coquelin
How Francis Coquelin still makes the starting XI for a top European side has baffled many pundits across the globe. The French Under-21 international returned to Arsenal after a brief, yet unsuccessful, loan spell at Charlton Athletic during the 2014-15 season and impressed one and all with his combative style of play and his robust tackles.
The 25-year-old proved pivotal in helping the Gunners secure a top 4 finish that season with him adding some much-required steel in a team which were often termed as too soft for the top level. However, nearly 2 years later following that impressive stint which lasted close to 6-months, Coquelin is a shadow of the footballer that he was.
The Frenchman is inept in circulating possession and lacks the skills required of a midfielder for a top European side. Coquelin has now become a liability for his teammates, due to his propensity to be booked for rash and unnecessary challenges. Arsenal should look to sell the Frenchman in the summer and replace him with someone having some semblance of a footballing brain.
#3 Theo Walcott
Theo Walcott is enjoying one of his best seasons with the North London outfit having notched up 17 goals and 2 assists in 30 appearances so far in the campaign. One could argue that given his statistics this season it will be harsh on the Englishman to be included on this list. The truth cannot be further away from that.
Walcott has a habit of going missing in the big games – a rather common trait among Arsenal stars – but more than 10 years after his transfer from Southampton, the 28-year-old is yet to live up to the potential or do justice to the abundance of pace available at his disposal.
Following the ACL injury he picked in the 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup of 2014, the 28-year-old has either lost a good part of his pace or has a mental block stopping him from bursting on goal at full-speed. It is not only his finishing that leaves to much to be desire, but also his footballing acumen and ability to exploit space.
It is evident now, that at 28-years of age Walcott will never fulfill the undeniable potential that he once had and is only going to decline henceforth. It will be wise on the part of the Gunners if they are able to move on the Englishman to one of the other big teams (read Manchester City), given the latter’s need of homegrown players.
#4 Per Mertesacker
The World Cup winning German is yet to feature for the Gunners this season. While that is mostly due to the knee injury he picked up in the pre-season, there is no denying that the 32-year-old is no longer good enough for a top European side.
The German international was never the quickest on the field but made up for his lack of pace – as well as he could – with his positional abilities. But injuries have taken their toll and the lanky defender has slowed down further, rendering him incapable of excelling in a fast-paced league like the English Premier League.
He might still be good enough for a top Italian side but not an English side. Mertesacker’s original contract was set to be over at the end of the current season but the Gunners decided to activate the one-year extension option. The Emirates outfit should look for a suitable replacement for the German and either shift him to the backroom staff or ship him out.
#5 Aaron Ramsey
There was once a time when Aaron Ramsey was considered one of the best central midfielders in the world of football. It was a brief period but it was there. However, multiple injuries and a few seasons later, the Welshman is not even an automatic starter for the Gunners.
There is no denying that the 26-year-old has been hampered by injuries but more than that he has been a victim of his own success – with the success getting to his head. The Welshman has been guilty of trying too many fancy tricks when a simple pass or a cross would suffice.
Ramsey might still become a top midfielder again but for that, he needs to put his head down and work hard and not let the criticism or the adulation get to him. The 26-year-old was phenomenal for Wales last year at Euro 2016 and a switch to another top European side might be exactly what he needs to rejuvenate his career.
For now, the love affair between Arsenal and Ramsey looks to be over and it is in the best interest of the two parties to end their alliance.
