Analysis of the full Arsenal squad – Keep, Sell or Loan?

Keep, Sell or Loan? by Dan Smith

Once the Finals have been decided, I’ll entertain you in pre-season with more detailed players and team end of campaign reports.

For now, we are going to glance through the squad and simply say who we want to keep, sell or loan.

Feel free to give your opinions in the comments ….

Ramsdale – Keep

Just extended his contract. Plays in a position where most don’t hit their prime till after 30!

Is only 25! So, in theory should only get better?

Turner – Keep

Have other areas to fix that are more of a priority then 2nd choice keeper.

White – Keep

Apart from last two of title race one of the few to maintain levels throughout run in.

My Gunner of the season.

Tomiyasu – Keep

Missed him during run in

Zinchenko – Keep

One of the few leaders we have (although over emotional at times)

I fear opposition have worked out our tactic where he steps into midfield when we are in possession.

Is it worth just starting him as a DM?

Tierney – Keep

I would keep unless he asks for a move away.

Too good to be sat on bench.

Gabriel – Keep

Partnership with Saliba should only get better.

Whisper it quietly, not as great as some Gooners make out but could become that.

Saliba – Keep

If he doesn’t want to sign a new deal  – sell. We cannot make mistake again of letting assets run down contracts.

Kiwior – Keep

Was brought in January so harsh to judge him yet. Needs times to adjust to new culture.

Holding – Sell

Some Gooners are a bit harsh on him wanting someone to be their scapegoat.

Career would benefit from fresh environment.

Xhaka – Keep

Wouldn’t make sense to get rid of one of the few leaders/ characters we have in our dressing room.

Has earnt the right to fight for his place.

Equally if he asks to leave out of respect, we shouldn’t stand in his way.

Jorginho – Keep

Again, we need to bring in more experience, not lose the few leaders we have in our dressing room.

I like that he instructs and orders players around. A good personality to have around the place even if he doesn’t start every week.

Partey – Sell

Can’t be trusted to stay fit and lack of composure in the run in was alarming.

Isn’t going to get better.

Elneny – Sell

Obviously not judging him on this season as he’s been injured but players, we are linked with are on another level.

Nelson – Free agent

Judging him on the duration since his last contract was signed hasn’t done enough.

Can’t get an extension based on one good goal against Bournemouth.

Can’t hide behind being a youngster anymore.

For his own development, needs to play more.

Smith Rowe – Keep

One of the hardest players to judge because since his surgery Arteta hasn’t trusted him.

Has the manager seen something in Smith Rowe’s fitness that he doesn’t like?

Did he not want to throw him into the intensity of a title race?

I’m worried.

Vieira – loan

Too big an investment to give up on after a season.

Lots of players need a first season to adjust to a new environment.

Needs a loan in England to get used to the physical nature of the division.

Odegaard – Keep

Again, it’s scary when you think of his age and that he will only get better.

Needs another creative player to take the burden off him though.

Trossard – Keep

10 assists in 20 league games for Gunners says it all. Will only get better once he has full preseason with club and feels more settled.

Maybe at times guilty of overplaying, wanting that extra pass when there’s no need. Was in the tough position though of often having the pressure of being the sole creative option off the bench.

Saka – Keep

Would like Arteta to not be afraid to sub him when he’s not playing well though.

Martinelli – Keep

Sky’s the limit

Whisper it quietly, think he’s better then Saka.

Jesus – Keep

Is it me did some Gooners turn on Jesus a bit?

Don’t know why. Was brilliant at Anfield and London Stadium. So don’t understand this notion that we got worse when he returned from injury.

Eddie Nketiah – sell.

4 League goals for 100-000 pound a week!

Wherever it’s injuries or not starting every week at this point has played 130 times for the Gunners, more than enough times to proves he’s not good enough for this level.

Balogun – Keep

Loan was part of his development.

Scored 20 goals in France so deserves a chance.

If he wants any assurances though, show him the door.

Pepe– Sell

Still would like Arteta to get the best out of talent and not wash his hands of them but with Pepe just take the hit and get him off the wage bill.

Tavares– Keep

Had a successful loan spell in France with an eye for goal, so deserves a second chance.

Unless Marseille wants to offer serious money.

Lokonga – Loan

Hasn’t done enough at Palace to prove his doubters wrong.

One more loan to prove himself.

Marquinhos – Loan

One for the future with a big reputation in Brazil.

No need to rush him into the first team squad.

Auston Trusty – Keep

Take Holding’s place as 4th choice centre back to play in Carabao Cups, see how he gets on.

Cedric – Sell

Too many players ahead of him

Runarsson – Sell

Played a lot in Turkey so maybe Alanyaspor will pay a fee?

Give me your opinions in the comments.

Be respectful towards each other.

Dan

Tags Arsenal squad Arsenal transfer window

56 Comments

  1. I’d prefer to keep Partey, because he’s our biggest CDM with the abilities to play RB and AM

    Ornstein said Arsenal will try to keep Smith-Rowe. Maybe they will let him compete with our other AMs for Xhaka’s position, unless he wants to leave for an easier internal competition at another club

    Hopefully Marquinhos will get his chance to compete with Saka. As for Pepe, I think he’s shown his maximum abilities in France and Arsenal had better cut their losses as soon as possible

    1. But what about the defense, we can’t keep Saliba if he doesn’t want to, time to prepare an offer for the 6’3″ monster Tapsoba.

      1. Arsenal should Saliba immediately if he still hasn’t signed the contract in June. Tapsoba sounds good, but I think Tah would be cheaper because of his age and contract length

        1. I’m not sure you have an idea here… Saliba has shown that he deserves to be at Arsenal performance wise. Why try something else which is not guaranteed to work?. We are told…, negotiations are still ongoing. Why are you not trusting the process? Dont you think Saliba was also hurt by the decision to had his #4 shirt to Ben White? Let’s give negotiations a chance and not rash to made senseless decisions for the club. I’m happy you’re not part of the decision making process @ Arsenal. Otherwise there would be chaos and disaster

      2. G – “monster” is a bit uncalled for you know.
        Look at the meaning of that word in the dictionary, it can mean many horrible things.
        You good G so I’m only joking..

        1. Gi and Ev on a serious note , don’t know much about Tah, is he physical, how tall is he ?

          Arsenal next center back has to be of the physical type, Liverpool and Man city man handle us,

          It is for that reason I recommend Tapsoba he relishes the physical battles he’s quick and perfect for playing the high lines.
          Am imagining Tapsoba and Magalhaes in our backline against physical teams .

          Now with uncertainties surrounding Saliba and his attempts to hold us at ransom

          1. G – who is Tah ? Does that mean thankyou?
            I’ve never heard of him.Who is he, what is he, where is he ? Tell me, I need to know.

  2. Well, I agree with most of the views expressed here on who to keep/sell. Key amongst thes is selling Nketiah, to make room for Balogun. That must be a no brainier.
    However, the view that Partey can be sold and ESR retained is reckless at best. Partly carried Arsenal for the entire first half of the season, and recent stats show that he’s in the top 10 most difficult to dispossess MFs and best passers of the ball from tight, difficult positions. Pls give hope to our aspirations to dethrone City.

    1. I agree that Partey has to stay, no compromising on that.

      But, Partey carried the team for the entire first half of the season? How do peoole come up with such shallow, hollow definitive statements?

      So what were the likes of Odegaard, Jesus, Saka, Martinelli, Xhaka, Ramsdale, Zinchecko, White etc all doing during that time? Were they just scrounging around like deadweights while Partey was carrying them?

      I am confused and don’t understand. 🙏

      1. Don’t read too much into his statement. It’s not a slap on other players. What he means is that no one could do what Partey was doing in that position. Moreover, he’s the only recognized world class player we have

        1. @dg8xt
          So no one could do what he did in his position. But could he have done what Saka did in his position? Would he have done what Odegaard did in his position? What about what Jesus did in his position? What about Saliba in his position? What about would he have done what Ramsdale did in his position? What about what what Ben White did in his position? Etc?
          Would Partey himself have done what those other players did in their own positions?

          What am I saying? I always find such over the top statements and over the top praise of certain individual players very irritating and cringeworthy. I find people that speak in absolutes / definitives on very subjective interpretations very irritating. “So and so is the only world class playerd in our team and carried the whole team blah blah”.. What? 🤐

          “So and so is the worst player in our team blah blah. “

          “So and so does things on the ball that no one else in his position can do..”

          “We will never get anywhere near the Top 4 later on talk of challenging for the title with Arteta as Arsenal manager etc..”

          “We will never get anywhere with the likes of Xhaka, Nketia in the team etc”.

          This was the only opportunity that we had to make Top 4 or challenge for the title and we will never get such an opportunity again soon”.

          Etc..

          I just find such talk to be very shallow, hollow, cringeworthy and irritating. It triggers me for some reason as it has no substance to it apart from individual subjectivity that is being passed on as some objective perspective.

          That’s all.

  3. Selling Partey, no ways. Everyone seemed to lack composure in the run-in.

    Turner doesn’t give me much confidence, he was a bit shaky when called upon.

    I’d sell Trusty too, we don’t need the fourth choice mentality. We need players who can challenge for the starting berth

    Tavares can’t be trusted too, he proved nothing while on loan

    1. Yeah but Partey’s in his late twenties so he’s not going to get better unlike a Saka and Martinelli
      Plus this is on the basis we get a better DM like Rice

      1. Yes we do need someone like Rice as a competition for Partey. I think it’s about time Arsenal started behaving big again and have two players fighting for every position and not have this 2nd choice, 3rd choice mentality. There’s UCL, EPL and some cup games

      2. You are not being consistent with regard to age.
        You say Partey is “in his late twenties so he’s not going to get better”, but you also say Xhaka should be kept etc. Xhaka will be 31 at the beginning of the forthcoming season, and he will definitely not get any better ! Whilst youv’e described him as a “leader”, his usefulness will not necessarily outlast Partey’s from an age perspective anyway.

        1. Because Xakah had a better season , showed leadership which is good to have around the sqaud , eg , who was starting in midfield at end of season ?
          Meanwhile we get more money for Partey which help funds a Declan Rice

          1. Agree, Xhaka is hardly injured, with more respect from fans and excellent guidance from the gaffer, he will continue where he left if there is no distraction to move. An injury plagued TP blocks the entry of Rice / Caedado. Also Nelson, Elneny, Runnar, Peppe bring nothing to the table, time to part company. AFC is a club striving for the highest honors, not a charity institution.

          2. Dan, Xhaka did not have a better season than Xhaka. It was only due to Partey’s improved performances due to being injury free for most of the season, that allowed Xhaka to play further forward in his preferred position, as he does for Switzerland.

  4. Elneny is a calm midfielder like Partey. He has speed to attack and recover the ball better. The suggestion is that a one-year extension can be made for him to stay. He could blend better with the return of Saliba behind him.

    1. Elneny is not the level we want for next season. He is just a safe sideways passing kind of player.
      He has had more than enough years under 3 managers and has failed to get to that level we hope for. FA cup and Carling cup games may be. But not EPL and CL games for me.

    2. Eke, Oh come on! Open your eyes for goodness sake and see Elneny fo exactly what he ,when ON THE FIELD; a way sub par trundler who should never, repeat NEVER, have been bought by AW.

      And newer, repeat NEVER, have been kept by MA. He is, they say, a great teammate, loyal hard working and very popular in the camp.

      But one reason he is popular is that no other player sees him as any sort of threat to their place.

      He is, in football terms, WAY BEYOND HIS SELL BY DATE.

      And you either see that or you know little about players.

      1. Jon – I just posted to Gunsmoke about Saliba, but it’s on the LAVIA page. Have a look when you can.

  5. Sell Partey and keep ESR? Are you serious? All the years he’s been at Arsenal ESR has only had 10 good games. Partey is top 10 DM/CM in the world period. Nketiah, trusty, Lokonga, Turner, Cedric, Holding, Pepe and Tavares i’m selling. ESR, Viera i’m loaning out

  6. I don’t understand why anyone would advocate for selling our best CM. He was amazing for the majority of the season. We have the EPL title, Champions league, FA cup and Carling cup next season. Can’t be selling one of your best experienced players in the squad.

    He will be 30 year old next month. Would rather keep him and add onto him than subtract from the sqaud..

    We are going to need players like him next season as it looks like it’s going to be yet another tough season trying to win the title.

  7. Saliba will have to be sold he’s nowhere near signing a new contract and his agent is looking for extortionate sums of money for his client can’t let the contract run down will get a decent fee for him now so needs to be done!

    1. Personally, I would rather pay an extortionate sum of money to Saliba than let him go. It will cost £100m to replace him with a defender of the same age and abilities

      1. 👍 and dgr8xt, do we know that what Saliba and his agents are asking for is “extortionate” comparable to Arsenal’s other contracted players?

    2. Listening to a report on the radio, Arsenal opened negotiations offering £120,000pw

      Whilst I absolutely agree that’s a fortune, I’m justifying my view that paying Saliba more is necessary IF you compare the weekly salary that Nketiah is reportedly on which beggars belief.

      I know that strikers tend to earn more than defenders but the difference between the 2 players is wide in terms of quality

      1. Sue sadly, I have to agree with you on SALIBAS wages As you know, I have long campaigned against ALL wages being anywhere near their present level and, were it up to me , I WOULD enforce, if I could, AN OVERALL REDUCTION OF 90% in all football salaries worldwide. But it wont happen of course.

        But if we lose Saliba, we wil struggle to make even top four. He is at least 75% of our outfield defence, IMO.

        Look at how we faded this season when he was injured. He is a vital cog and at all costs we MUST keep him.

        IF it made the crucial difference, I would even sell Nketiah and give ALL HIS WAGES TO SALIBA to keep him here.

        1. Very true. We cannot lose Saliba as he’s too important. And the cost of replacing him with a like for like player will be beyond our means

        2. If we do not pay him what he wants, he will go to PSG on the cheap.

          If we sign him to a new 4 or 5 year contract, we can sell him next year for a much bigger fee!!!!

          I cannot believe there are people who want to sell Partey, unbelievable!!

          Plus we will need him next year when we fail to get neither Rice nor Caicedo.

          Sell Navares and sell or loan ESR, it is better for him than just sitting on the bench.

      2. I’m not sure you have an idea here… Saliba has shown that he deserves to be at Arsenal performance wise. Why try something else which is not guaranteed to work?. We are told…, negotiations are still ongoing. Why are you not trusting the process? Dont you think Saliba was also hurt by the decision to had his #4 shirt to Ben White? Let’s give negotiations a chance and not rash to made senseless decisions for the club. I’m happy you’re not part of the decision making process @ Arsenal. Otherwise there would be chaos and disaster

  8. Disagree but understand the thinking on partey. It might depend on which midfielders we can bring in – he’s adept at building from the back and there’s not many who come close. We’re fortunate to now have jorginho, but when Partey’s not in dreadful form, his physical stature gives him a real edge.

    Didn’t understand the paragraph on jesus. I thought he was fantastic before his injury, but he was dreadful in the run in – seemed more concerned with helping the build up, and he was getting bullied by defenders, when previously he’d been bullying them. Either way, he’s definitely one to keep. We just need him to stay fit and we need to bring in some competition – arteta must the confidence to rest him at times, I feel.

  9. De Bryne and Gundogan are on the wrong side of 30. Yet they ain’t going nowhere cos they’re effective. You wonder why City doesn’t collapse under pressure like us? There’s your answer. You don’t just rip up your engine room especially when they’ve proved to be the best in the league for 93% of the season. Partey isn’t going nowhere Dan.

    Marquinhos should be kept and inducted into the first team via the Cups. He’s very talented in my eyes

    Tavares, Tierney and Zinchenko can’t be in the same first team. Tavares should go

    Nketiah will be difficult to offload except we’re willing to accept a small fee

    1. dgr8xt – you’re right about age. I have know idea why people are so dismissive of players who reach the age of 30. There are so many top players today who are way over 30. Messi, Ronaldo, Modric for example. And before anyone says they are exceptions, they are not a rarity in this day and age as true professionals keep themselves fit in order to prolong there lucrative careers.

        1. sorry “no”. this is going to be a bad spelling day. If only I could get my brainbox working.

      1. Bergkamp, Henry, Vieira and Adams at 30 yo would walk into the current Arsenal team.

        1. Absolutely right Ozziegunner. I saw King Tony last week and he still looked very fit.
          Ageism is a terrible thing. When I was a kiddiwink (8-17 ?) I thought a 30 yr old player was ancient, now that I’m an old git my attitude is more realistic. Unfortunately there a grown adults today who still persist with the myth that 30 for a footballer is old. Don’t get it at all.

    2. De Bryne and Gundogen also deliver every season
      Partey was so bad he was dropped and ended the season as a make shift right back ?
      To even make the comparison is insulting to two man city legends

      1. You’re very wrong Dan. Had Partey’s form (like the entire team) not gone overboard at the tail end of the season, those Man City legends would not be celebrating the title. We would. That would have meant we were better than them this season. But thanks to our one dimensional manager, we had no plan B for injuries while players who were off-form and costing us points continued starting

        1. Yeah but his form did go didn’t it ?
          That’s the difference between good and great
          The great deliver when it matters
          The likes of De Bryne do that every season
          Partey’s never done that for us
          To compare is insulting

  10. Keep-Ramsdale Turner Hein Tomiyasu White Saliba(sign the contract) Gabriel Kiwior Zinchenko Partey Jorginho Odegaard Viera(needs to step up big time next season) ESR Saka Martinelli Trossard Nelson(expected to sign new deal) Jesus

    Sell-Runarsson Cedric Holding Mari(gone) Trusty Tavares Tierney(unfortunately doesn’t suit Manager’s philosophy) Lokonga Patino(wants to leave) Elneny Xhaka(wants to leave) Pepe Nketiah Balogun(wants to leave) John-Jules

    Loan-Okwonko Walters Norton Cuffy Rekik Marquinhos

  11. This will be a buyers market everyone just thinking about selling selling.

    Saw a report where Man United will be dumping some thirteen players in the market.

    Pochettino making it clear he dosen’t want Jpao Felix at the bridge but has been advised to clear the deck
    Auba , Kante, Loftius Cheek, Mount and countless others will be release if reports is true

    And Arsenal could release up to nine players ,

    Where will all these players go, somthing will have to give , surely this has to be a buyers market.

    1. Gunsmoke, Its NOT how many , but rather how MUCH top quality is being releasedinto the general market that actually counts.

      Releasing many nothing special playeras into thj market will make no difference to what to clubs seek. Nor to what they will pay FOR REAL TOP CLASS TALENT.
      With all due(lack of) respect to Chelsea, their ageing duds bought for fools gold money, will be entirely irrelevant to our hunt for TOP class players. Likewise Man Uniteds many duds released too. REALITY!

    2. G – Luton will be looking for some ! Mind you their home attendance capacity might put those available players off a bit (10,000).
      Do you remember the days of Ricky Hill, Ray Harford, Meka Nwajiobe and Brian Stein ? In the ’80s they had a decent team but they’ll seriously struggle next year.

  12. Agree with you both , the market will be saturated mostly with deadwood and some may not even be able to stand up in flour , but there may just be one or two young able ones slip through the cracks that makes for a decent bargains.

    Was not fully abreast with that lot just a little like John Barns from Watford as you are aware of the connection

  13. I align with your positions on these players.

    Partey showed towards the end of the season that he’s lost a step or two. He won’t get better as he aged. Sell.

    Martinelli, as you rightly noted, was more exciting and dangerous either with the ball st his feet or when he drifts into the box, than Saka.

    Sell Vieira. He isn’t up to par with the direction Arsenal are going.

    I would want Xhaka to stay but I guess he’s already on his way out.

  14. Yes, do all we can to keep Saliba. 120k is an insult where Saka is getting 290k and Nketiah and Nelson are going to get 100k to sit on the bench. If I was Saliba’s agent, I would ask for 250 k or 200k at the minimum.

    If Arsenal value him, now is the time to show it. Otherwise PSG will show how much they value him for by offering him 300k.

  15. When one advocates for the sale of Thomas Partey and retention of Jorginho….., I start to question their thinking. Arteta allowed Gabriel Martinelli to recover from his injury, Smith Rowe l believe is also being given time to completely heal. Pep also gave Gundogan time to heal. Results on Gundogan and Martinelli have paid off. Why can’t the coming of Caicedo and Rice be a blessing and enable Thomas Partey to recover as well? Can anyone here doubt the abilities of Yakubu? I don’t believe in Jorginho in the long run. Why keep a player who can not be trusted versus Soton? Honestly… What kind of football are talking about

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