The simple fact after Arsenal’s purchases this summer is that we have, right now, our biggest squad ever and we definitely need to start off-loading or at least arranging long-term loans for at least five of them.
As mentioned in the earlier midfield post, the Gunners have 9 midfielders, plus Iwobi who isn’t really a striker, plus Perez if he stays as a winger and of course Danny Welbeck, who is only going to be out wide if Aubameyang and Lacazette stay fit.
So the so-called midfielders/wingers we have are…
4 Mohamed Elneny
7 Henrikh Mkhitaryan
8 Aaron Ramsey
10 Mesut Ozil
11 Lucas Torreira
15 Ainsley Maitland-Niles
22 Jeff Reine-Adelaide
29 Matteo Guendouzi
34 Granit Xhaka
17 Iwobi
23 Welbeck
28 Perez
Elneny and Xhaka have got new contracts and Torreira is defintely going to be a first-choice. Arsenal have cancelled Guendouzi going to the U20 tournament and Emery says he will be a first-teamer. So I think…
Jeff is definitely out on loan if he’s not injured
Iwobi will be sold
Perez or Welbeck will be sold (if we can find a buyer!)
So we will then have ….
7 Henrikh Mkhitaryan
10 Mesut Ozil
11 Lucas Torreira
15 Ainsley Maitland-Niles
29 Matteo Guendouzi
34 Granit Xhaka
plus Perez or Welbeck
Even that is much too many even if we have different teams for the League and the Europa League….
So that is why I believe Ramsey will be sold, not only because we have too many, but also because we will get a big lump to reduce our overall nett spend. Who else could Arsenal sell to bring down the numbers?
Sam P