It has been a topsy-turvy campaign for Arsenal, under new coach Unai Emery. And while the Spaniard, truth be told, has lacked resources, a number of players have struggled to integrate themselves into his tactical philosophy at the Emirates this season.
Therefore, it won’t be surprising to see the Gunners undergo a mini squad overhaul when the transfer window reopens in July.
In this article, we will take a look at three players Arsenal should sell in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Mohamed Elneny
By far the most under-utilised Arsenal midfielder this season, Mohamed Elneny has had a disappointing campaign, to say the least, having mustered just over 150 minutes of league football.
Due to the addition of players like Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira last summer, the Egyptian has gone down the pecking order at the Emirates. Thus, a move away from north London could be a logical choice for Elneny, who, at the age of 26, could be an excellent addition to any mid-table Premier League outfit apart from a host of competitive European sides.
Elneny’s current contract at Arsenal expires in 2022, but with the Gunners scheming to sign more midfielders in the summer, the move could make sense for the club as well.
Hamdi Nouh, the former manager of Elneny, has already insisted that the player should have left Arsenal. Thus it won’t be surprising to see the Premier League giants cashing in on this Egyptian international in the summer.
Mesut Ozil
Mesut Ozil is a dream player for any manager to have but not for Emery, it seems, as the former German international has clearly struggled to make an impact in the Arsenal first-team this season.
Ozil has mustered just over 1,250 minutes of league football, which is certainly unacceptable for a player who reportedly bags £350,000 a week.
And considering his hefty wage bill, it will be wiser for Arsenal to part ways with the former Real Madrid playmaker in the summer.
In fact, it was reported that Emery is plotting to offload Ozil in order to free up some transfer fee, which can be utilized to fund a move for a more tactically versatile playmaker who can integrate himself into the Spaniard’s gameplan at Arsenal next season.
Shkodran Mustafi
The lack of solidity in defence has remained one of Arsenal’s biggest weaknesses even under Emery, and it is probably safe to say that Shkodran Mustafi is one of the players culpable for making a host of defensive errors that have led to Arsenal conceding silly goals throughout the course of this season.
The German international often looks vulnerable in defence, and his man-marking is suspect, meaning it could be imperative for the Gunners to find an upgrade to Mustafi in the summer if they are to compete with the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool next season.
Therefore, cashing in on Mustafi wouldn’t be a bad idea for a club, who already boast the services of no less than five central defenders at the moment. However, the Gunners certainly need to be wise in identifying their desired replacement for the German if he does leave the club in the summer.