Arsenal: 5 extra players to sell if Gunners lose FA Cup final

Arsenal%e2%80%99s self-sustainable model, gaining European football is crucial to having healthy finances.</p> <p>Sadly, after a disastrous Premier League campaign in which they secured their worst finish since 1995, they will be without European football next season should they lose the FA Cup final against Chelsea on Saturday. Such a scenario changes everything, including the make-up of a squad that now has to prepare for far fewer games and a mostly weekend-weekend schedule.</p> <p>With that in mind, therefore, here are five extra players that Arsenal should look to sell in the summer that they perhaps would look to keep if they were playing in Europe.</p> <div id="attachment_102830" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-102830" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/30/arsenal-5-extra-players-sell-gunners-lose-fa-cup-final/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1253701247-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Emiliano Martinez" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 01: Emiliano Martinez of Arsenal gives team mates instructions during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Norwich City at Emirates Stadium on July 01, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Mike Egerton/Pool via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h4>5. A goalkeeper</h4> <p>When<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/30/arsenal-5-extra-players-sell-gunners-lose-fa-cup-final/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=bernd+leno%22> Bernd Leno</a> suffered what looked to be a nasty knee injury in Arsenal’s loss to Brighton, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/30/arsenal-5-extra-players-sell-gunners-lose-fa-cup-final/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=emiliano+martinez%22>Emiliano Martinez</a> was given a chance to secure the starting job for the remainder of the season. He has done that and more in recent weeks, so much so that some are now questioning whether Leno deserves the number one spot when he returns from injury before next season.</p> <p>Had Arsenal been in Europe, keeping both would have been possible. You can sell one as the European and domestic cup goalkeeper and the other as the Premier League goalkeeper. Keeping both happy without Europe, however, will not be possible.</p> <p>They are both starting quality and they deserve to be starters at high-level teams. You cannot satisfy both. Moreover, given Arsenal’s need to raise funds to invest in other positions, Martinez and Leno represent terrific value. In fact, both are some of the valuable assets in the squad.</p> <p>Selling one to fund moves at needier areas of the team is a no-brainer when you can only hold one as the starter. Who that should be, however, is a much more difficult question to answer.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/30/arsenal-5-extra-players-sell-gunners-lose-fa-cup-final/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 4. Reiss Nelson </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_103579" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-103579" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/30/arsenal-5-extra-players-sell-gunners-lose-fa-cup-final/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1227407113-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">(Photo by SHAUN BOTTERILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h4>4. Reiss Nelson</h4> <p>One of the most significant impacts of having no European football will be the lack of extra gametime that Mikel Arteta has to hand to younger players. Especially in the Europa League, the six group-stage games and even early knockout games are often used to give young players first-team minutes in meaningful matches.</p> <p>Without European football next season, the need to rotate through the squad is much-reduced and it leaves several young players without the regular playing time their development requires. One such example is <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/30/arsenal-5-extra-players-sell-gunners-lose-fa-cup-final/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=reiss+nelson%22>Reiss Nelson</a>, who has shown spurts of promise under Arteta but is yet to enjoy a consistent run of games in the team.</p> <p>Thanks to niggling injuries and competition from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, Nelson has only made seven Premier League starts all season. Only two came since the restart and he was substituted before the hour mark in both. In all competitions, he has totalled just north of 1,000 minutes. That is not enough, and it is unlikely to increase next season. As a result, sending him out on loan to another Premier League club is a must.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/30/arsenal-5-extra-players-sell-gunners-lose-fa-cup-final/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 3. Sead Kolasinac </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_102982" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-102982" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/30/arsenal-5-extra-players-sell-gunners-lose-fa-cup-final/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1254254951-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">(Photo by Mike Egerton/Pool via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h4>3. Sead Kolasinac</h4> <p>Like goalkeeper, left-back is another position where only one player starts per match. Unlike in central midfield, centre-back, or across the front line, rotation is only done in straight swaps with changes in formation not likely to include both left-backs in the starting XI.</p> <div class="recent-posts "> <h4>More from <b>Pain in the Arsenal</b></h4> <ul> <li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/30/arsenal-5-extra-players-sell-gunners-lose-fa-cup-final/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/arsenal-interest-miguel-gutierrez-girona/"> Fabrizio Romano confirms Arsenal interest in Girona star </a> </li><li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/30/arsenal-5-extra-players-sell-gunners-lose-fa-cup-final/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/when-will-martin-odegaard-return-from-his-injury/"> When will Martin Odegaard return from his injury? </a> </li><li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/30/arsenal-5-extra-players-sell-gunners-lose-fa-cup-final/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/2-midfielders-arsenal-could-sign-in-january-transfer-window/"> 2 midfielders Arsenal could sign in January transfer window </a> </li><li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/30/arsenal-5-extra-players-sell-gunners-lose-fa-cup-final/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/thomas-partey-unlikely-to-play-for-arsenal-again-in-2023/"> Thomas Partey unlikely to play for Arsenal again in 2023 </a> </li><li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/30/arsenal-5-extra-players-sell-gunners-lose-fa-cup-final/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/predicted-arsenal-lineup-vs-burnley-saka-fit-to-start/"> Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Burnley: Saka fit to start? </a> </li></ul> </div> <p>In a season with fewer games and an easier schedule where resting players who have played midweek and weekend fixtures for an extended period is not so pertinent, having two left-backs is not essential. The back-up left-back becomes expendable, especially if you have a back-up right-back (Cedric Soares) and central midfielder (Ainsley Maitland-Niles) who can fill in at the position in a pinch.</p> <p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/30/arsenal-5-extra-players-sell-gunners-lose-fa-cup-final/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=sead+kolasinac%22>Sead Kolasinac</a>, therefore, loses his value greatly. Kieran Tierney is the starter, and is far superior to the bumbling Bosnian, and he will only start when the Scottish international needs a break, is suspended, or suffers an injury. The first of those will be far less problematic in a reduced season, while the latter two are somewhat dependent on fortune. They are difficult to predict.</p> <p>This does not mean Arsenal do not need depth, but given that they have versatile players who can fill in across the backline, they need not double up at every single position as they might normally want to. As such, Kolasinac is no longer necessary. Getting his wages off the books and recouping at least some value in the transfer market quickly becomes the wisest move.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/30/arsenal-5-extra-players-sell-gunners-lose-fa-cup-final/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2. Joe Willock </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_103881" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-103881" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/30/arsenal-5-extra-players-sell-gunners-lose-fa-cup-final/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2020%2F07%2F1227724582-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">(Photo by PETER POWELL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h4>2. Joe Willock</h4> <p>Another young player who will struggle for gametime next season, like Reiss Nelson who is stuck behind Nicolas Pepe, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and any other wide player that Arsenal might look to add, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/30/arsenal-5-extra-players-sell-gunners-lose-fa-cup-final/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=joe+willock%22>Joe Willock</a> also faces a season with little regular football should Arsenal fail to qualify for European football.</p> <p>Amazingly, Willock has made 44 appearances this season. However, 24 of those were as a substitute. He played the full 90 minutes just five times, and none of those came under Mikel Arteta. He made 29 Premier League appearances, which is encouraging for a 20-year-old, but 21 of those came as a substitute. Only once did he play the full 90 minutes, in the second game of the season against Burnley.</p> <p>Turning 21 in August, Willock is ready to be playing on a weekly basis. But if he cannot force his way into Arsenal’s midfield this season with Mesut Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi banished and other options failing to convince, he certainly won’t next year once the club spends at the position, as they are expected to do. With another season on the bench looming, it is time for Willock to find a team where he can play consistently.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/30/arsenal-5-extra-players-sell-gunners-lose-fa-cup-final/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 1. A striker </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_103938" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-103938" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/30/arsenal-5-extra-players-sell-gunners-lose-fa-cup-final/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2020%2F07%2F1227682175-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">(Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h4>1. A striker</h4> <p>It is likely that Arsenal will be forced into selling one of <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/30/arsenal-5-extra-players-sell-gunners-lose-fa-cup-final/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=alexandre+lacazette%22>Alexandre Lacazette</a> and <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/30/arsenal-5-extra-players-sell-gunners-lose-fa-cup-final/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=pierre-emerick+aubameyang%22>Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang</a> this summer whether they have European football or not. They both have tricky contract situations, are towards the back-end of their primes, and this is the last summer in which both will carry some form of value in the transfer market.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia"> <div id="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-position="slideshow_inline" data-slot="inline_104143" style="width:300px;margin: 0 auto;"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.defineSlot("/175840252/fansided.com/PainintheArsenal/mpu",[300, 250], "minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet") .addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.enableServices(); googletag.display("minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet"); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>However, in that scenario, Arsenal would need to replace one or both of them with younger options. Without European football, they could let one leave and not even need to bring in another goalscorer. They could sell both and just sign one replacement to cover both positions.</p> <p>With Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Martinelli waiting in the wings, as well as the anticipated development of Nicolas Pepe and Bukayo Saka potentially turning into a left-winger, Arsenal have young options across the front line. As such, it makes sense to sell at least one of Lacazette and Aubameyang and only replace them if both are sold. The money raised can be invested in a centre-back, central midfielder or more natural winger.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Arsenal Vs Chelsea: Predicted starting XI" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-predicted-xi-2/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/30/arsenal-5-extra-players-sell-gunners-lose-fa-cup-final/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-predicted-xi-2/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Arsenal Vs Chelsea: Predicted starting XI </a> </div> </div> <p>Arsenal will not need two elite centre-forwards. The young players can be their depth and either a replacement or the other who is not sold leads the line. Rotation is not as important, while finding quality, not quantity, is. No European football, then, changes everything. Let’s hope that it doesn’t come to this.</p><!—pageview_candidate—></p>">