With Arsenal’s title challenge falling down around their ears, a few media outlets have taken to looking at the squad ahead of the summer.
The Daily Star, a paper with historical links to sources inside Arsenal, have identified five players that they feel are set for the chop in the summer – though they’ve done this based on an article in Football Insider rather than by using their own sources.
How right did they get it?
Kieran Gibbs
I was surprised to see Kieran’s name on this list.
A talented defender who has been beset by injury and fallen behind Nacho Monreal in the pecking order. Playing just a bit-part role, he often looks rusty and as if he might have regressed – something that happens when you don’t feature very often. Nacho is 30 now, and although handed a new deal recently, he won’t be around forever. Kieran is 26 so knows that he needs to start playing again on a regular basis.
Nacho is 30 now, and although handed a new deal recently, he won’t be around forever. Kieran is 26 so knows that he needs to start playing again on a regular basis.
I can’t see Arsenal selling him, but there is the possibility he might want to leave. I just don’t see it happening though. He’s been at Arsenal since he was 15 and has never moaned about his role on the bench.
Mathieu Debuchy
This is a no-brainer.
Debuchy has no intention of playing second fiddle to some young Spanish upstart. Bellerin, on the other hand, has no intention of giving up his slot. The Frenchman will leave in the summer and his time at Arsenal will be an injury-riddled footnote in his career.
The Frenchman will leave in the summer and his time at Arsenal will be nothing but an injury-riddled footnote in his career.
Mathieu Flamini
Another that is set to leave given that his contract is up and he’s done nothing to earn a new one. Woop woop.
Mikel Arteta
Arteta may well stop being a player for Arsenal in the summer given the injury problems he’s suffered over the past two years, but at just 33 is he ready to hang up his boots?
Unless he feels he can get over his problems, expect him to leave playing but stay at Arsenal.
Tomas Rosicky
Tom is another that is out of contract and out of luck.
Loved by the Arsenal faithful, Tom’s career at the club was only ever a shadow of what it could have been.
Crocked again, I can’t see either Arsenal or Tomas wanting to agree on a new deal and we may finally have to say goodbye to the Little Mozart.
Sad times.