It is becoming a yearly cliche that “Arsenal are three players away from winning the title” and that could probably easily be said again this summer, although if we hadn’t had any injuries this season we may have been a LOT closer to the top.
We are still a long way away from the transfer window, but Wenger was asked what his plans were going to be in the light of our untimely exit from the Champions League, and he replied: “Ninety-five per cent of the players will still be here next season,”
“And what is important is the attitude of this 95 per cent of the players and how much we improve, how much we push on now until the end of the season.
“We are in the semi-final of the FA Cup, we are in a strong fight in the Premier League.”
We all know that every season there will inevitably be some departures either because of contract issues or simple old age, but shall we try and make a guess as to who will definitely be replaced this coming summer.
The outsider must be Theo Walcott, and this will all be down to whether Wenger can persuade Theo’s agent to be a bit more reasonable in his demands for his new contract. I can’t see Wenger being so lenient as during the “sign Da Ting” saga. The England winger is nowhere near as crucial to the squad as he was in those bygone days….
My money’s on Flamini going – to make way for a new top-class Defensive midfielder, and there is simply no way that Lukas Podolski will be returning to the fold after his comments in January.
Will Szczesny listen to his Dad and force his way out in search of first-team football? And will Mikel Arteta beg Wenger to let him finish his career in Spain?
Abou Diaby is a certainty to NOT have his contract renewed now, and what about Per Mertesacker leaving for a club in Germany where he might be appreciated a bit more by the fans?
Who do YOU think will be out the door?