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

Arsenal have great strikers at their disposal, but their wide options are seriously lacking.

Danny Welbeck: The lovable Danny Welbeck is a more useful player than many give him credit for being. He stretches the pitch and can hang onto the ball very well. There’s a reason he played so often under the two greatest managers the Premier League has ever seen, in Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. If a good offer comes in (£20 million +), Welbeck should be sold, but if not, he can continue playing the impact sub role that he thrives on. Verdict: Sell for the right price.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan: The end-product machine that is Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been a decent addition to the Arsenal team. After a confusing 2-year spell with Manchester United, the Armenian captain is finally back playing under a more possession-based side. He is a bit suspect off-the-ball, and is certainly in decline, but Mkhitaryan can still give Arsenal a few great years of insane through balls! Verdict: Keep.

Reiss Nelson: The reigning PL2 Player of the Season is a firm member of the Arsenal first-team now, and is quite clearly destined for great things. Nelson is one of the most promising English talents of this generation, and his talent must be nurtured by Emery. Another season in Europa League certainly means more starts for Nelson in attacking roles, and it’s going to be exciting to see Arsenal’s best academy prospect since Jack Wilshere in action again. Verdict: Keep.

Eddie Nketiah: A true poacher in the box, Eddie Nketiah’s scoring records at youth level for club and country are simply ridiculous. The talent is clearly there, and although we haven’t seen much of it since his 2-goal explosion off the bench against Norwich City in 2017, we can expect Nketiah to improve steadily. Working with a fellow box poacher in Aubameyang could certainly help the cause, but if a Championship side requests his services, why not let him go? Verdict: Keep or Loan.

Alexandre Lacazette: The first season in English football didn’t go quite smoothly for Lacazette. He seemed to score goals in bursts, and his poor form near the middle of the season, capped off with an injury, didn’t help his case. He has fresh new competition with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Lacazette is certainly good enough to earn a starting place next season. Unless a massive offer comes in, which is unlikely, Arsenal should keep him around. Verdict: Keep.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: One of the best goalscorers in world football, Arsenal secured the services of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for a club-record fee of £57 million in January. Aubameyang got off to a ridiculously, impressive start in the Premier League, reaching 10 goals and grabbing 4 assists, in his first 13 matches. Although he was pushed to the wing to accommodate Lacazette in some matches, Aubameyang is certainly a striker and should be starting there in the future. With a full pre-season under his belt, Aubameyang is amongst the favourites to win the golden boot in the Premier League next season. Verdict: Keep.

Transfers: Something that has been missing from Arsenal in recent seasons is a true wide threat. Alexis Sanchez was a superb winger, but he drifted inwards most of the time to be on the ball. What the Gunners need is their very own version of a Leroy Sane or Anthony Martial. Someone who can dribble, someone young who can drive at the full-backs and create chances through intelligent running with the ball. Cristian Pavon, Goncalo Guedes, and Gelson Martins are 3 viable options who fit this mould. If Arsenal could get one of them for under £30 million, it could prove to be vital in the coming seasons.