So much work to do in this summer window
I was looking at our squad sheet on the back of yesterday’s match programme and started to tot up how many players we’d have for next season and it adds up to Arsenal having to do as much as they did in the last summer window if not more. Here’s my list of who should stay and who should leave.
STAY:
Tierney White Partey Gabriel Saka
Odegaard Smith-Rowe Holding Tomiyasu
Tavares Lokonga Elneny Ramsdale Martinelli
LEAVE:
Leno Lacazette Cedric Pepe Nketiah
UNDECIDED:
Xhaka
Just 14 certain by my reckoning to still be at the club next season. Arteta wants a squad of 25 so that means there’s an enormous amount of work to be done in this transfer window. With the extra matches in the Europa League we will need a full squad.
Matt Turner will replace Leno and the other American we signed the wonderfully named Auston Trusty will be sent out on loan as will the young Brazilian kid, Marquinhos if we sign him which seems likely.
I don’t think any of the players we have out on loan will return to the club other than Balogun and probably Saliba. I also think Charlie Patino may get more minutes next season. Hutchinson will probably go on loan. So that brings the first team squad up to 18 or 19 depending on whether Xhaka stays.
So there we have it: we need to recruit six or seven new Arsenal signings in this window.
Edu needs to get cracking!
Started going to Highbury in ’66. Season ticket holder since ’76. Love The Arsenal. Need I say more?
Despite this seems unpopular, I wish for Leno to stay. We have witnessed how Arsenal get benefit from having two quality goalkeeper within the squad. During FA cup run, although people still talked about Auba’s goal, we would never sniff the final had it not for Emi Martinez available behind Leno. Story continues to this season, when Ramsdale got injured, Leno keep us still contesting for 4th finish (yeah, we failed in the end).
I understand he needs gametime for WC. But any fees less than £10 M just too small for GK with his calibre, and I am still not sure about the new GK (Will Turner even better than Okonkwo?). Arsenal can be ruthless, keep Leno even it will run his contract. Play Leno for UEL, Carabao, and FA cup. Get Ramsdale against cup opposition when we need his distribution. Leno is a good GK, his saves means business.
Conclusion: having two quality GK will help Arsenal through hectic season ahead, and mitigating the risk of injured GK. Any transfer fees for less than £10 M is lower than the benefit of keeping Leno for next season.