According to Daily Mail, Sead Kolasinac could be offloaded by Arsenal this summer. The left-back has been identified as one of the nine players Mikel Arteta is looking to get rid of as he aims to bring in funds to pursue his preferred targets. Kolasinac is joined by the likes of Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi and even Hector Bellerin, with Arsenal ready to undergo a massive squad overhaul.
Sead Kolasinac’s struggles since Project Restart
It hasn’t been an enjoyable season for Kolasinac. The Bosnian international has been a victim of his evergrowing injury problems, having missed a chunk of the campaign due to an ankle injury and a lack of fitness.
Nevertheless, Kolasinac was in contention for the first-team action since Project Restart. But, his performances have been miserable, to say the least. Indeed, the left-back has just struggled to integrate himself into a newly implemented three at the back system, where he was often deployed as the left-sided centre-back.
Especially in the game against Brighton & Hove Albion, the ex-Schalke ace failed to provide any sort of solidity. Instead, he made notable errors at the back that could have easily cost his side dearly.
As a result, Kolasinac found himself getting replaced by Kieran Tierney in that centre-back slot during the final phase of the campaign. The move, it seems, has worked out quite well for Arsenal, with the Scot playing a key role in victories over Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea.
Why Arsenal must offload Kolasinac this summer
Kolasinac’s potential departure from Emirates could be good riddance for Arsenal and for multiple reasons. As mentioned earlier, the Bosnian has already lost his place to Tierney at centre-back. Even in the left wing-back slot, he has found it difficult to compete with the likes of Bukayo Saka and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
It means there is a chance that Kolasinac could completely fail to establish himself as a first-team starter should he remain at Emirates next season. Hence, offloading him makes sense given so much competition on the left flank.
Besides, it is important to consider the left-back’s poor injury record that has marred his progress in the Premier League. While his teammate Tierney has also attained a similar record, the Scot has at least shown first-team quality and could play an integral role in the club’s future.
Kolasinac, on the other hand, has turned into a liability and should be shown the exit door. His departure, in fact, could help Arsenal fund moves for other defensive targets, who can help the team as they look to compete for a top-four finish next season.
