Unai Emery admitted there’s a possibility Nacho Monreal could leave this summer, with rumours linking him to a Real Sociedad transfer.

In the last couple of days, growing reports from Spain have started to suggest that Monreal is closing in on a transfer back to his home country. Marca reported on Saturday that only the final details stand between the defender and a two-year deal with Real Sociedad.

In Unai Emery’s press conference after the game, he was asked about the potential for a move in the final week of the European window.

“With Nacho there is one possibility that’s open and we’re going to speak about that,” Emery admitted. “He made a very big match (against Liverpool), very big match, and he’s a very big professional for us.

“It’s one issue, we need to speak the next days because in Europe the transfer window isn’t finished yet. But we are going to speak about all the situation, the possibility.”

As we highlighted in our previous article on the rumours, selling Monreal would leave Arsenal very short on options at left-back for the next month or so. Kieran Tierney and Zech Medley are injured, Dominic Thompson left for Brentford, so only Sead Kolasinac and Tolaji Bola remain as realistic alternatives.

Given Bola has never made a first-team appearance at Arsenal or anywhere else, it would put him under a bit of pressure to suddenly be rotating with Kolasinac. The left-back is in good form with the u23s, but it’s hard to say how he’d adapt.

If Arsenal are relying on Kolasinac playing every game for potentially over a month, that’s an even bigger gamble on a player who has had fitness troubles in the past.

In a few months’ time, we might be able to look back at the sale and see the benefits, with a player who would’ve quickly become surplus to requirements off the wage bill, and a bit more money in the bank for transfers. For now, it’s a risky move.