Hello all.
Was following news about Odegaard etc and was wondering just how much deadwood we have. Looked at our 1st team squad on Arsenal.com and realized that it is a LOT.
In an ideal world, who would you sell? Here is my extensive list.
Bellerin - not lived up to the potential. Of PSG offer 25 mill plus, I'd sell. Lool at Lamptey or Max Aarons for replacement.
Chambers/Holding - One of them or even both. It may be harsh as Holding and Chambers both got ruined by injury. Holding has been pretty solid last few games but had a bi/ of a nightmare yesterday. Chambers was very good until injury. However, I feel like we need a world class player here. I have hopes for Saliba who has been decent on loan but Upamecano has a 40 mill release clause. I know...far fetched..but..we shifted Ozil and Sokratis and save around 340k a week in wages. If we shift Luiz (who if he keep playing like he is atm, I'd extend for a year) and one of holding and chambers, we can afford to pay Upamecano a great wage.
Kolasinac - not really lived up to it. Another who needs to be shifted. I have no idea who I'd bring in as cover. Maybe Bertrand? 31..still decent and would fill in for Tierney.
AMN - hit or miss but has great games followed by tepid lukewarm showings. If we can get 20 mill, I'd sell. Seems out of favour, wants to play in CM but no manager sees him as a cm.
Elneny - squad player. Not sure we'd get much for him but I am liking Bissouma at Brighton to partner up with Partey.
Ceballos - decent but not good enough to keep. Would not renew loan.
Pepe - we are screwed...no one will take him. I'd sell for 10- 15 mill to save on wages.
Willian - I'd let go on a free to save wages. Or even pay him 6 months to a year of his wages as he has 2.5 years left. Any money saved is a bonus.
Nketiah - not impressed. I know his numbers for under 23s and England under 21's are amazing...but look at him and then look at Martinelli or Saka. Stark difference. 2 get you out of your seat...Nketiah..when he scored, I am surprised. I'd give Balogun a chance. Otherwise, Martinelli can deputies up top I think.
Torreira - simply because he does not want to stay.
Mustafi - he does not want to stay and I'd get rid.
Id also send Willock and Reiss-Nelson on loans.
Looking at this list... we have 12-14 players who are not good enough for us. For a 25 man squad, that is pretty shocking. If we get rid of 8 of these guys, and bring in 5 top class replacements, we could push for top for next season.
How many players would you trim from our sq
posted on 25/1/21
For a start, Maine, you are selling all our homegrown players. And the 3 who will stepping up. That means you have already restricted the squad to 17 plus u-21s. In Europe the rules prevent us from using some of our best U-21s as well.
Buying homegrown players isn't all that easy or cheap, and the prices you put on Bellerin, AMN, Holding and Chambers is not going to get much. Lamptey, who I think is one of the most overrated players in the league and not a great right back at all, would be very expensive, as will Aarons no doubt. Neither are currently at a standard to come straight in and perform at the standards you expect.
Hate Elneny, but if you sign Bissouma and sell Elneny, release Ceba back to Real and loan Willock then one injury will leave you short in midfield. And, of course, you won't have AMN as an option because you have sold him as well.
We are going to lose Mustafi, Luiz, Kolasinac, Lacazette and some others over the next couple of years, and it is going to cost us a fair bit to get the players we need to improve the team already. Adding a lot of squad players to the shopping list doesn't make sense. We need to develop the likes of Azeez, Cottrell, hopefully one of Ballard, McGuiness or Clarke will come good, maybe Moller can make it. But none of them are ready yet.
posted on 25/1/21
Just for clarity, squad next season:
Leno
Cedric, Saliba, Gabriel, Mari, Tierney
Partey, Xhaka
Saka, Martinelli, Smith-Rowe
Aubameyang, Lacazette
13 players. Zero homegrown. You are looking at adding at least 10 players to the squad in one summer, plus integrating Azeez and a couple of others who almost certainly need another year of development.
And with Laca near the end of his contract and Auba getting on, signing at least one top class striker becomes very important very quickly.
posted on 25/1/21
Also, Gabriel and Martinelli (maybe others?) will miss start of season for Olympics. Partey and Elneny will miss part of the season for ACON, many will be playing in international tournaments in summer probably (unless covid can help us out).
posted on 25/1/21
Not sure why people want Holding sold. Guy is a solid squad player who rarely lets us down.
If Bellerin is to be sold then we need to sign a ready made top class replacement. Have no issue with Cedric being a backup RB as he can do a job to a decent standard if called upon imo.
posted on 25/1/21
Hoping this is not another Dennis Suarez or Kim Kallstrom situation
posted on 25/1/21
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 5 hours, 41 minutes ago
Just for clarity, squad next season:
Leno
Cedric, Saliba, Gabriel, Mari, Tierney
Partey, Xhaka
Saka, Martinelli, Smith-Rowe
Aubameyang, Lacazette
13 players. Zero homegrown. You are looking at adding at least 10 players to the squad in one summer, plus integrating Azeez and a couple of others who almost certainly need another year of development.
And with Laca near the end of his contract and Auba getting on, signing at least one top class striker becomes very important very quickly.
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Are Saka and ESR not home grown?
posted on 25/1/21
Our management have been trying to shift this sh*te for a few windows now. Unsurprisingly, nobody wants them,
posted on 25/1/21
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 10 hours, 53 minutes ago
For a start, Maine, you are selling all our homegrown players. And the 3 who will stepping up. That means you have already restricted the squad to 17 plus u-21s. In Europe the rules prevent us from using some of our best U-21s as well.
Buying homegrown players isn't all that easy or cheap, and the prices you put on Bellerin, AMN, Holding and Chambers is not going to get much. Lamptey, who I think is one of the most overrated players in the league and not a great right back at all, would be very expensive, as will Aarons no doubt. Neither are currently at a standard to come straight in and perform at the standards you expect.
Hate Elneny, but if you sign Bissouma and sell Elneny, release Ceba back to Real and loan Willock then one injury will leave you short in midfield. And, of course, you won't have AMN as an option because you have sold him as well.
We are going to lose Mustafi, Luiz, Kolasinac, Lacazette and some others over the next couple of years, and it is going to cost us a fair bit to get the players we need to improve the team already. Adding a lot of squad players to the shopping list doesn't make sense. We need to develop the likes of Azeez, Cottrell, hopefully one of Ballard, McGuiness or Clarke will come good, maybe Moller can make it. But none of them are ready yet.
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You bring up great points about homegrown and the EU rules now. We are so screwed.
The issue we have is not squad size...it's squad quality. But I get what you mean that we could be in serious trouble if we let go of too many homegrown players.
I guess the bad buys and lack of great youth coming through for years has caught up with us!
posted on 25/1/21
comment by HB Fash - Listening to f**ckin UB40 or somethi... (U21935)
posted 8 hours, 7 minutes ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 5 hours, 41 minutes ago
Just for clarity, squad next season:
Leno
Cedric, Saliba, Gabriel, Mari, Tierney
Partey, Xhaka
Saka, Martinelli, Smith-Rowe
Aubameyang, Lacazette
13 players. Zero homegrown. You are looking at adding at least 10 players to the squad in one summer, plus integrating Azeez and a couple of others who almost certainly need another year of development.
And with Laca near the end of his contract and Auba getting on, signing at least one top class striker becomes very important very quickly.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Are Saka and ESR not home grown?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Under 21s.
posted on 25/1/21
Just seeing you list that DJ, makes any decision to sell AMN even crazier, unless the offer is some serious money. People have thrown around sums like 20-30 mil as though we'd be able to replace him with someone of equal or better quality, with 6 PL experience and HG for that paltry sum. Would we feck.
You know I think he should be playing alongside Partey now but if not and he goes, that's got to be a loan and him back next season. With everything else we've got going on and player/s we still need to get in, we can't really afford to let him go at the moment. Not unless we want to create an additional squad balancing headache. And when already know the owner won't roll out his cheque book to soothe said headache.