Former Arsenal star Charlie Nicholas has said that the Gunners should sanction the sales of Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan when the transfer window reopens at the end of the campaign.
Gunners boss Unai Emery is likely to rebuild his squad with multiple recruits in the summer and part of the focus could be on strengthening the options in the wider attacking positions.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Nicholas indicated that the club have a genuine weakness when it comes to the wider attacking roles and the club should consider the sales of both Iwobi and Mkhitaryan during this summer’s transfer window.
He added to criticise the club’s decision to sign Denis Suarez on a temporary basis from Barcelona with the midfielder managing just six substitute appearances before suffering a season-ending groin injury.
He said: “I would sell Henrikh Mkhitaryan and if I got the right money for Alex Iwobi I would sell him too. Denis Suarez has gone, that was a waste of time.”
Mkhitaryan has been wayward with his performances over the course of the season and the lack of consistency could pave the away for a summer departure, as claimed by The Mirror earlier in March.
However, Nicholas’ criticism over Iwobi appears slightly harsh, considering the Nigerian has looked a much-improved footballer under Unai Emery when compared to the previous campaign with Arsene Wenger at the helm.
The 23-year-old has impressed with his intent when it comes to taking on the opposition defenders, but he still has to improve with his crossing and finishing attributes, which have regularly let him down.
Nonetheless, Emery may unlikely consider the attacker’s sale, considering he has the age by his side to show an improvement while he remains the most natural winger within the club when the senior options are taken into account.
Arsenal play their final home Premier League game of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday and the game may witness starts for both Iwobi and Mkhitaryan, should Emery decide to rotate his players.
The north London side are currently two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea on the table, and their prospects of qualifying for the Champions League through their domestic division are dependent on the Blues dropping points in at least one of their remaining two fixtures.
