ARSENAL MUST CLEAR THE DECKS AND SET SAIL WITH BRILLIANT KIDS
THE Europa League trophy might as well be cast from iron pyrite if Arsenal do go on to lift it this season because, for the Gunners, it will be nothing more than fool’s gold.
It would serve only to paper over the huge cracks that have appeared at the Emirates in recent years and delay the massive overhaul that is so clearly needed.
Hector Bellerin, Alex Lacazette, Willian, Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny all need moving on for starters.
And maybe Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang too.
Willian and Aubameyang aside, that’s based on longevity rather than form, with Arsenal’s recent problems ingrained so deeply in all of them that it’s inevitable their heads drop and there’s a feeling of ‘here we go again’ every time an issue arises.
Mikel Arteta cannot allow that mentality to permeate the exciting new crop of youngsters he has got coming through – he must protect them from that.
As Thursday night’s display against Slavia Prague reminded us again, Arsenal have some brilliant young players.
And in Emile Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka (below), Gabriel Martinelli, the currently injured Kieran Tierney, plus 27-year-old newcomer Thomas Partey, he has a quintet he could build a formidable team around.
With the right additions in the next two to three years, performances like in midweek could be the norm from Arsenal rather than something which happens once every few weeks to leave fans wondering, ‘Why not more often?’.
If Arteta can get Arsenal to that stage, then they will be challenging for the trophies and league places their supporters feel they always should be – instead of producing more roller-coaster campaigns like this one.
To get there, though, a good clearout is needed.
When Gareth Southgate took over with England, he and the FA made some big decisions with players who had been part of the teams that had failed to ‘‘ move on. Southgate realised the whole set-up needed a reset if the Three Lions were to become properly competitive again.
Arsenal are at the same crossroads. The big question fans must ask themselves is whether or not they think their club can win the Premier League or Champions League in the next three years with, by and large, this current group.
Because, if not, then why not start next season with Bernd Leno, Calum Chambers, Rob Holding, Pablo Mari, Tierney,
Partey, Saka, Smith Rowe and Martinelli, with just a couple of other additions?
Give them the time to grow and get experience under their belts so they can start competing for the really big trophies they crave in three years’ time.
David Luiz is the one senior name who should be kept on for his experience of winning those big trophies, plus maybe one of Aubameyang and Lacazette for another season.
But otherwise get rid of anyone with the excess baggage from their time at the club.
It would take patience and understanding from the Emirates faithful, of course, but if they see a young, vibrant, hungry side who are moving in the right direction, then most of them will buy into it.
As The Stone Roses once sang, ‘Gold road’s sure a long road’. And the sooner Arsenal recognise the truth of that, the better.