Alan Smith says some Arsenal player’s need to move on
As the summer transfer window continues, Arsenal will be looking to buy, sell and offload players and after the season we just had, there’s definitely a few players that should be considering moving on from the club this summer, if not only for the club’s benefit but also for their own career trajectory.
Ex Arsenal striker Alan Smith has spoke to ‘Lord Ping’ on three players he thinks should leave the club this summer, saying this “I think there are several players at Arsenal that must move on for the good of their careers. Ramsdale does not want to be sitting on the bench all season again, does he? He’s said as much in a recent interview.”
“Ramsdale is good enough to occupy the number one spot in the Premier League for somebody, whether it’s a top four club is another matter.”
“Eddie Nketiah used to get 20 minutes quite regularly the season before this one, but since Havertz has come in, that’s not happening anymore. It’s a shame for him because I do like him. He’s come through the ranks and he’s a good finisher but with so little game time I’m sure now he’ll want to start really getting his career going.”
The third player Smith thinks should be moving on is another academy graduate, Reiss Nelson, who strangely only signed a contract extension with the Gunners at the end of last summer, at a rumoured wage of 100,000 a week. Despite the fact that Bukayo Saka often needed a rest or was playing with an injury, Nelson only made one start in the Premier League all season, and was not even in the squad for the last 8 matches. He was used early on in 5 of our six Champions League group games, but only totalled 178 minutes on the field.
Smith thinks that these figures show he is not in Arteta’s future plans. “Reiss Nelson is in a very similar situation. He needs to be playing regularly now,”
“From Arsenal’s point of view, it is an advantage because these youth team players can command good fees that, as we know with the financial regulations, are regarded as pure profit because they come through the academy.”
“Chelsea are trying to do that to offset all of their incomings. Connor Gallagher and Trevoh Chalobah are the players that they are rumoured to be open to moving on. Selling them, Gallagher in particular, would have a much bigger impact on Chelsea than it would if Arsenal sold Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah.”
“From a financial point of view, Arsenal have spent a lot of money over the last few windows, and they would need to sell in order to invest as heavily as they want to.”
And honestly, you can’t really disagree with him on any one of the players mentioned. Ramsdale is clearly not going to be Arteta’s first choice and should be thinking about his career and international career. Nketiah just isn’t looking like he’s going to be able to break through and need to be playing for his own sake and Nelson is another player who just isn’t getting the minutes he needs to continue to progress.
Arsenal have a lot of thinking to do but clearing out some of the deadwood is necessary this season.
What’s your thoughts Gooners? Is there anyone else you think they need to move on for their own good?
Daisy Mae
ADMIN COMMENT
So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….
You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, please contact us through this link…
Ramsdale, Partey, Smith Row, Nelson, Zinchenko, Kivior, Lokonga.
I’d like to see Zinchenko playing in the left-sided AM position, because of his technical skills and experience
I think you and I are howling into the wind with this one, mate. It seems so obvious but it’s never going to happen.
Nketiah, Nelson, ESR, Lokonga, Tavares, Tierney
Keep the rest if possible
I’d want to wait and see who we actually sign before putting any player up for sale.
It looks like the average of seven players out is the agreed figure by the fanbase, but do we believe the club is going to be able to finance the same amount of players in and at what cost, both in transfer fees and salaries… as we, surely, will be looking to recruit better calibre players?
We can’t afford to wait, money is needed to make the purchase, the more you sale the more chance of going big on proven players
Ken, that would be the sensible way. The club should know which players are leaving, so they should buy the replacement first.
First signing will probably be Raya for the already agreed fee of £27m.
Once the 1st of July arrives, and then the Euros finishes, transfers should start to happen.
Yes HD, that’s how I see it.
Rumours abound as usual, but I don’t think we will move on anyone until we have a clear view on who’s leaving, apart from Raya of course.
Do you see any chance of the youngsters getting a leg up next season? 7 incoming from outside the club would be risky imo
Any player not good enough to play for City or at worst be in their bench should be moved on, that’s our level now or we will always come short if we want to persist with some average players
Nkettiah
Nelson
Ramsdel reasons we all know
Gabriel Jesus (250k a week and not the same player he was before his ankle injuries which is always a tricky one)
Smith Rowe
Viera
Zinchenko
Partey( if a good offer comes from Saudi 🇸🇦)
Then we can add real ballers that will be a hit not project players
I’m not really interested in selling a player for ‘their sake’. They are professional athletes. I’m interested in what’s best for the team and I see no place for Nelson, Nketiah, Lokonga, Cedric, and I don’t think Arteta is going to play Ramsdale, Smith Rowe or Kiwior, however, I would certainly keep ESR and Kiwior myself. Add to this list I personally would look to sell Zinchenko, Trossard and Jorginho.
The Euros have demonstrated that Arteta and Arsenal have no business competing with Man City with Jorginho and Trossard playing key roles. Trossard was never good enough and Jorginho just isn’t as good as he was. Both of these need immediate upgrades unless MA can squeeze even more juice out of these.