The Arsenal Bench – who stays, who goes

The Starting Line Up

We will make a couple assumptions here.  First we will assume that Lucas Torreira will be joining the club.  Second, for ease, we will stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation preferred by Unai Emery and previously used by Arsene Wenger. But wouldn’t it be something to see a formation with two strikers!

The Bench

Welbeck

Danny Welbeck will turn 28 this year.  He will be a distant third choice for striker, though he may get playing time in a wider position as well.  With one year remaining on his contract it might be a good time for both Arsenal and Welbeck to part ways.  In the prime/latter stages of his career Danny should be looking for regular playing time, and with his services not desperately required at Arsenal this term, they could look to get something back instead of losing him on a free transfer next year.

Iwobi

Alex Iwobi only just turned 22 this year, despite having already made several appearances for the Arsenal first team over the last two seasons.  During the 2016/17 he really impressed, but last seasons displays were less convincing.  Still he is a young player with potential and I think the club will want to hold onto him.  Iwobi’s contract runs until 2020 and I think he will be happy to stay and see what opportunities he is afforded under Unai Emery.

Perez

Hmm what to do with Lucas Perez.  I think to be fair to him Arsenal should let him go.  Perez was brought to the club late at the end of the 2016 summer transfer window.  It felt like Wenger purchased him to try and quell the fans, but despite some good showings for the club he was never really given chances.  He was never the caliber of player Wenger or the fans wanted, but having said that he is a decent forward.  At 29 though I do not see a future for him at the club.

Reine-Adelaide

Jeff Reine-Adelaide has had some acceptable performances for the first team, although his opportunities have been limited.  Ultimately he has shown capable and at only 20 it is still unclear whether he will attain or fail to reach his potential, but for now there is plenty reason to keep him.  He could still blossom.

Maitland-Niles 

Ainsley Maitland-Niles is the future of Arsenal!  He should be in the first team this season.  Arsenal have smartly signed him to a contract until 2023.

Elneny

Mohamed Elneny is an excellent squad player for Arsenal.  He is only 25 and shores up the midfield nicely whenever he is brought on.  Perhaps Elneny may want to look elsewhere for more regular first team football, but Arsenal should try to hold on to him if he is not pushing for an exit.

Lichsteiner

I wasn’t sure about this acquisition.  On the up he was a free transfer and brings loads of experience to the club.  It is also unlikely that much will be expected of him as Bellerin will be the main option on the right of defense.   Still I would rather see younger players given chances to develop, but as he was just brought in this transfer window he is obviously here to stay for at least this season.

Holding, Chambers and Mavropanos

At 22, 23, and 20 respectively much is expected of these three in the very near future.  Sokratis Papastathopoulos was brought in this year to tighten up the central defense, and will likely start most games as long as he remains healthy, but at 30 he is a temporary fix in this position.  Either Chambers, Holding, or Mavropanos will need to develop to fill this void in the next couple years.  It would be exciting to see a dual British contingent in the central defensive position in the next few years.

Koscielny

Laurent Koscielny has of course been the heart of Arsenal’s defense for several years now and is only on the bench because of injury.  However at 32 and having sustained a significant injury it is unlikely we will ever see him start in the center of defense for Arsenal again.  It is sad to say as he was a rock during his best years, but time and injury have caught up to him.  Given his injury he will not be transferable, whether Arsenal or Laurent would want it.

Kolasinac

Sead Kolasinac was a great acquisition last summer.  He was a free transfer and at only 25 years of age he has many good years ahead of him.  He needs to impress with his opportunities off the bench this season, and with Monreal turning 33 this season he should get his chances.  He is an option to fill the left back position in the future and is a good option to deputize for Monreal now or cover the left midfield when necessary.

Cech and Ospina

Petr Cech is at the point in his career where he will accept being the second choice goaltender.  David Ospina is not.  David Ospina is only 29 and is a decent goalie, but with Leno’s arrival at the club it is possible he could be third in line to the goal.  Ospina’s contract runs until 2020 so there is no pressure for Arsenal to sell this transfer window, but to be fair to him they should allow him to move.  And I should think he would want a move to get more first team football.