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Arsenal: Full squad review – Who to keep, who to sell, and who to sign this summer

By Mahith Gamage

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 25: Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal talks to Calum Chambers and Granit Xhaka of Arsenal during the Carabao Cup Final between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on February 25, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 25: Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal talks to Calum Chambers and Granit Xhaka of Arsenal during the Carabao Cup Final between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on February 25, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal have quality in midfield, but they need a better option to play alongside Aaron Ramsey.

Granit Xhaka: Oh Granit Xhaka. Like Moses split the sea, the Swiss international splits the judgment of all football fans. Is he quality or is he rubbish? We’ve seen very convincing glimpses of both. But one thing is certain – he makes the Gunners tick when he’s in form. If you’ve ever watched a Xhaka-less Arsenal, I feel very sorry for you. Without him, they’re often unorganized and impatient with the ball. Whether you like him or not, he is a starter for Arsenal. Verdict: Keep.

Mohamed Elneny: The passionate Egyptian is quickly becoming a fan-favourite at the Emirates, due to his “never give up” attitude. It’s rare to see him off the pitch without a smile on his face. Apart from being a very nice human, Elneny is actually a good midfielder. An excellent passer of the ball, Elneny was recently given the famous #4 shirt and looks set to continue in his rotational role. Verdict: Keep.

Jack Wilshere: A long-term servant of Arsenal football club, 18 years in fact, Jack Wilshere is set to be out of contract on July 1st. Although he is sometimes inconsistent, he brings a real sense of energy and drive into the Arsenal midfield which can often be typically slow. Wilshere is a superb dribbler with a knack for getting in trouble – something which has won over the fans over the years. It would be a shame for Arsenal to lose such a talented English player, so re-signing him seems the obvious choice. So long as he accepts a backup role. Verdict: Re-Sign.

Aaron Ramsey: The Arsenal hero of the decade, Aaron Ramsey has blossomed into one of the very best central midfielders in England over the past year or so. His end product from midfield is amongst the best in the world, and he continuously proves to be invaluable to this Arsenal team. His contract is out next summer, and Unai Emery must put every ounce of effort into reaching a contract agreement before August. Arsenal cannot lose their prized possession. Verdict: Keep at all costs.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles: We saw Arsenal youth product Ainsley Maitland-Niles play at left-back about halfway through the season. After this, many fans thought his long-term future would lie in that position. Boy, were we wrong. Maitland-Niles silenced all his critics with a dominant midfield display at Old Trafford towards the end of the season, where he earned the Man of the Match award despite a narrow Arsenal loss. Another season in Europa League means Maitland-Niles will be getting some much-needed playing time. Verdict: Keep.

https://twitter.com/ltarsenal/status/990648306123526144

Mesut Özil: The Arsenal talisman Mesut Özil signed an enormous £350k/week contract in January, keeping him at the club for a further 3 years. Although Özil has legions of critics, he is still a world-class playmaker and is invaluable to this Arsenal side when breaking the opposition down. As he is in the peak of his powers, he should be given a central role once more. Verdict: Keep.

Alex Iwobi: He may be the face of his nation at this summers’ FIFA World Cup, but Alex Iwobi has truly become a fringe player at Arsenal. Not particularly convincing enough in the final third to be a regular starter, one of Unai Emery’s key tasks will be to maximize Alex Iwobi’s enormous potential. Although he played primarily on the wings under Wenger, Iwobi is a true midfielder who is excellent in possession and in-between the lines. He should continue playing a rotation role until he matures a bit more. Verdict: Keep.

Transfers: Arsenal are currently linked very heavily with Sampdoria midfielder Lucas Torreira. At just 22 years of age, Torreira is already one of the best midfielders in Serie A, and his release clause of £22 million is a bargain-and-a-half. Arsenal should pull the trigger immediately, as these opportunities don’t come around often. If they can’t get the deal done, Arsenal should look to sign a midfielder with good lateral movement to aid Ramsey and Xhaka. Jean Michael Seri and Abdoulaye Doucoure particularly come to mind.

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