Arsenal were once again quiet in the January transfer window as the Gunners failed to sign anyone to boost their chances over the back end of the season, leaving them to head into the final third of the campaign with the same core of players.
Many Arsenal fans had hoped that their side would invest this winter having slipped to as far as nine points behind league-leaders Chelsea, however, it wasn’t to be.
The only business undertaken by the Gunners was the departure of a number of youngsters, five in fact, as Krystian Bielik, Marc Bola, Matt Macey, Stephy Mavididi and Gedion Zelalem all left the club on loan moves for the remainder of the season.
Does the lack of investment this January mean a summer of spending for the Gunners? Or perhaps even a summer clear-out, and not just the young players, in order to make way for the incomers? Here are THREE non-movers from January we think should leave Arsenal this summer…
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Once the shining light for young English footballers, a number of injuries, lack of opportunities and, it must be said, poor form have meant the midfielder has unfortunately not yet lived up to his undoubted potential in the red shirt, or on the international stage.
This season has perhaps been one of his most consistent so far, having made 28 appearances and scored six goals (a fair few from the substitutes’ bench, it must be said) but once again ‘The Ox’ has gotten himself injured and is set for some time on the sidelines. Undoubtedly a talented player, the Englishman is too often used as a utility option by Wenger and never given the run of games in his favoured positions that he needs.
Lucas Perez
The Spaniard is beginning to look like a player who could potentially break into the Arsenal starting line-up, having put in some impressive performances as of late. However, given the good form of the under-rated Olivier Giroud and the return of the classy Danny Welbeck, opportunities are once again looking slim for the former Deportivo La Coruna man.
While he only arrived at the club during the summer, it is evident that he is too good to be a third choice striker and that he will probably not get the opportunity to be anything other than that.
Gabriel Paulista
The centre-back partnership of Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny has been a steady part of Arsenal’s starting line-up this season, and the pair have been, for the most part (forget the first 15 minutes at Watford in midweek), excellent. Third choice Per Mertesacker has also been made club captain recently, meaning his long-term future is more than likely with the Gunners, while youngster Rob Holding is also beginning to break through into the squad.
Where does this leave poor Gabriel Paulista? A lost man, unfortunately. While he started at the weekend at right-back in the absence of Hector Bellerin, the Brazilian defender is at the bottom of the defensive pecking order at the Emirates Stadium.
