As we approach the January transfer window, a natural point of discussion is which players Arsenal will bring in next month. However, Arsenal are also likely to agree to some outgoing deals.
For a variety of reasons, Jonathan Kaney has identified these four Gunners as candidates to leave in the winter transfer window- and some of them are extremely likely to be on their way out next month and the full contingent will likely be gone before the start of next season.
Some of these players have underperformed, and things just haven’t worked out, whilst others are reaching the end of their career and are past their best before date with Arsenal. It’s sad to see those players go but football is a cut-throat business and there can be no sentiment in success.
Hit the navigation buttons to see FOUR players Arsenal should offload in January!
Mathieu Debuchy
The Frenchman looked like a great signing at the start of his Gunners career before suffering a terrible injury after only a few appearances. Gooners were concerned with Carl Jenkinson on loan at West Ham and our only right back the untested Hector Bellerin. But the Spaniard has gone strength to strength under Wenger and has moulded in to one of the most promising right backs in Europe.
Bellerin has well and truly cemented his place as first choice right-back and after a lack of games this season Debuchy has been vocal in his frustration, hinting on several occasions that he will look to force a move to make the French Euro 2016 squad.
He’s featured in some of our worst performances this season and has upset fans with his lacklustre showings and attitude in the opportunities he’s been given. With him entering his peak and with plenty of Premier League experience we could recoup a few million for him and replace him quite easily.
Yaya Sanogo
Sanogo is a difficult one, but a definite candidate to be sold. At 22 you could say he is a prospect we should hold on to after flashes of brilliance – his four goal haul against Benfica in 2014 comes to mind.
But after underwhelming in an extended run in the first team, an unsuccessful loan spell at Palace and his latest loan club Ajax sending him back in January after being unimpressed with him, it will be tough for him now to break in to the team.
With his age and raw talent, someone may come in with a bid for him to try and get the best out of him, but we will have to hope they don’t listen to Ajax youth coach Ronald De Boer who said:
“When I see Sanogo, I still have my doubts. I have still found no qualities with which you can do something.”
David Ospina
A great keeper who is too good for the bench. Ospina and has been unfortunate to be pushed out of the team with the arrival of the world class Peter Cech.
The Colombian has been poor this season in the rare opportunities he’s been given due to rustiness, but is still a talented and well respected keeper in world football and his contribution when he came in last year will not be forgotten.
It’s likely he will move on in January and we will try to get as much as we can for him while clubs are interested than let him sit on the bench and lose value.
Tomas Rosicky
Another departure with no ill feelings would be Tomas Rosicky, who despite never quite reaching the potential he showed as a world beater in the early 2000’s, has put in a great shift at the club and is well liked by fans.
More for him than the club, it’s time to let Tomas move on. The veteran Czech playmaker hasn’t kicked a ball this season due to injury and his place in the squad, whilst valuable in the experience he brings, could be better filled with a young talent more likely to mount a first team challenge to Cazorla and Coquelin.
I can’t see Wenger selling Arteta or Flamini as central cover, but at 35 and clearly unhappy with his lack of game time, Rosicky could be allowed to move on to get some first team football in the twilight years of his career.