5 players Unai Emery should exile from Arsenal

After the last few years of the Arsene Wenger-era, Arsenal's moves in the transfer window have been exemplary.

Wenger had established a reputation as a slow burner in the transfer market, often waiting until the last minute before making important transfer decisions (the purchase of Danny Welbeck a prime example).

Head of football relations Raul Sanllehi, chief scout Sven Mislintat and new manager Unai Emery have done better this time around with the Gunners looking like one of the most settled top sides in Europe.

The club has spent upwards of £70m to fix gaping holes in the team. The clearout of players which began in January has also continued with Jack Wilshere and Santi Carzola the latest be let go.

However, there are still certain players on the team who are not of the quality required. Here is a look at 5 players Emery should bin before the start of the season:

#5 Joel Campbell

Campbell is not of the required standard

It is difficult to fathom why Arsenal still has Campbell on its books and if the new wave of changes is anything to go by, his future will come to a head sooner rather than later.

A left-footed winger capable of playing on either flank, the Costa Rican international joined the Gunners in 2011 but was only officially signed on in 2013 due to issues with his work permit.

Since this time, he has spent two full seasons as a bit-part player while spending the other seasons on loan at an assortment of clubs: Real Betis (twice), Villarreal, Lorient and Sporting CP.

At these clubs, Campbell has failed to show enough to encourage any of these sides to seek his permanent transfer.

On the surface, he looks like a versatile winger who can operate effectively on both flanks while providing a real goal threat with his cutting in. The reality, however, is that he is a mediocre player who has failed to show meaningful consistency at any of his clubs.

In about 8 seasons as an Arsenal player (including loan spells), Campbell has played just 40 games scoring a very forgettable total of 4 goals in the process. Emery should do him a kindness and let him go as he has nothing to offer a side looking to challenge for the big trophies.

#4 Mohamed Elneny

Arsenal can do better than Elneny

A hard worker, Elneny's performances have been more diligent than impressive in an Arsenal shirt.

One of the many cheap options which Wenger had brought in to fill the problematic defensive midfield position, the Egyptian has never been afforded an extended run in the side.

A hard worker who looked like a willing runner whenever he was called upon, the Egyptian has failed to exhibit any of the abilities expected of the world's pre-eminent defensive midfielders.

He has not shown the energy and tackling ability of an N'Golo Kante. Neither has he shown the finely honed sense for sniffing out danger one associates with players like Casemiro, Sergio Busquets, Fernandinho among others.

With Emery said to be chasing a tall defensive midfielder (Steven N'Zonzi seems to be the target) as well as the continued presence of continued presence of Granit Xhaka in the side, Elneny's services would no longer be of use to the team.

#3 David Ospina

It is time to say Adios!!! to Ospina

An easy choice, Ospina may be the numero uno goalie for Colombia but he is not of the standard required by a team looking to do big things.

The Colombian was brought in as the backup to Petr Cech and to be fair to Wenger, Ospina has been given chances to impress.

He has failed to take these chances as he has looked shaky, uncertain and capable of howlers every time he plays.

Though he has not been helped by the very terrible Arsenal defence, Ospina's flakiness has been the major reason why he has not challenged Cech for the number one spot.

He played the majority of Arsenal’s games in last season’s run to the Europa League semi-final but was unconvincing for the majority of these encounters.

With German international Bernd Leno already in the team, there is no need for Ospina and he could be sold as soon as a good offer comes along.

#2 Laurent Koscielny

The Gunners can do without their captain now

While's Wenger's talent for picking unknown or cheap players and polishing them into superstars waned in his last few years at Arsenal, Koscielny was one of the more successful buys.

The French international was brought in from Lorient for £8m in 2010 and while he took a while to settle and make his mark, he has emerged as the team's best centre-back in almost a decade.

The Frenchman's toughness, tackling, and leadership has been a staple at Arsenal for 8 straight seasons. However, he is beginning to wane and this is showing in his play.

It’s true that defenders Shkodran Mustafi, Hector Bellerin, Cech among others have nightmarish campaigns in the 2017/2018 season. It is also true that Koscielny contributed to this uncertainty as well, a state of affairs that saw Arsenal concede a whopping 51 goals in the league last term.

He has slowed down in recent years and has begun to lose out in physical battles against opposing strikers. Never the fastest centre-back, his decision making has also begun to look suspect. This left his partners in defence looking more suspect than usual last season.

With Rob Holding and Calum Chambers getting new contracts and the arrival of another experienced centre-back in Sokratis Papastathopoulos, the Gunners do not need their captain as critically as they used to

#1 Danny Welbeck

Arsenal can and should do better than Welbeck

Never in doubt as to who would be atop of this list, how Welbeck has lasted as long as he has at Arsenal is a testament to the club’s malaise in the last years of the Wenger era.

Louis Van Gaal made a lot of mistakes when he was in charge at Manchester United. However, getting a top 4 rival (as Arsenal was then) to pay £16m for the England international now looks like a stroke of genius.

A fast and hardworking player, Welbeck’s good work is more often than not undone by his lack of balance, a terrible first touch and his all-round lack of intelligence.

The Ghanaian-born striker who can also play as a winger has not been lucky with injuries as well as in four seasons at the club, he has only played 112 times, scoring a pathetic total of 27 goals.

With proven goalscorers; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette expected to be the main men up front under Emery, the 27-year-old has no business being in the team.

Like Wilshere, Welbeck would be better suited to an ambitious but limited Premier League mid-table side (like Newcastle United) as it seems to be his level, not one with aspirations of winning titles.