Although a host of players are linked with a move away from the Emirates of late with their last few dismal performances making the rumours even more concrete, we look at 3 Arsenal players who are most likely to depart at the end of the season.
Kieran Gibbs- The left defensive flank has been a huge problem for Arsenal of late. Although Wenger has two decent options in Nacho Monreal and Kieran Gibbs who have been pretty impressive at times in the manager’s eyes, both of them have also shown their respective weaknesses in different scenarios.
While Nacho Monreal has been hugely susceptible to pace that was perfectly exposed in Arsenal’s game against Middlesbrough where Boro’s winger, Adama Traore, outpaced the 31-year-old Spaniard time and again; Gibbs has still been showing elements of inexperience in his game despite being in the club for 13 years, like that against Bayern Munich.
Gibbs’ contract with Arsenal ends in 2018 and although he has been favoured by Wenger in the FA Cup and EFL Cup ties to start as the skipper, we don’t think he has impressed much at the club despite being here for 13 years. Wenger is likely to cash in on him with one year left on his contract if a decent offer comes his way.
Mathieu Debuchy- He has been one of those unlucky players at Arsenal (you know, Abou Diaby, Tomas Rosicky and all). The French international has been linked with a move away from the Emirates for long now and it seems more likely to happen at the end of this season finally. Hector Bellerin is the first choice for Wenger currently, and he is expected to hold that position for a long time considering his young age, and with Debuchy getting more injury prone with age, Wenger is unlikely to hold on to him any longer.
Although the right-back’s position has been a bit of a concern for Wenger at times, the perfect adjustment of Gabriel Paulista has pretty much covered things up. And with Calum Chambers returning from his loan stint at Middlesbrough at the end of the season, Debuchy must have already finalised his next club by now.
Jack Wilshere- He was sent to Bournemouth, not only to get his fitness back but also because Wenger has put him down the pecking order after Francis Coquelin, Aaron Ramsey, Granit Xhaka, Mohamed Elneny and now Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Although he has spent a pretty much injury-free season at Vitality Stadium, his position in Arsenal’s first team looks doubtful and the English midfielder would definitely want first team action, even if it means moving somewhere else.
