According to The Sun, Henrikh Mkhitaryan is poised to return to Arsenal when his loan spell at AS Roma expires at the end of the campaign. The Italian giants are not interested in securing the winger’s services permanently unless the Gunners lower their asking fee of £20 million.
In this article, we will discuss whether or not Arsenal should retain the services of Mkhitaryan next season or offload him for a lower price in the summer.
What do Arsenal need in the attack next season?
It is needless to say that Arsenal boast one of the best attacking units in the Premier League. They have a host of quality individuals like Mesut Ozil, Nicolas Pepe and Reiss Nelson in their offensive department.
However, the Gunners have lacked the presence of a constant source of creativity. While Ozil has performed well under Mikel Arteta, he hasn’t been able to turn the game around under pressure. In that sense, Arsenal have missed the presence of a more dynamic individual like Alexis Sanchez.
Marquee signing Pepe has failed to make an immediate impact in the Premier League. Same can be said about Nelson. As a result, Gabriel Martinelli has become a key component in the Arsenal attack this season.
So it goes without saying that Arteta needs to sign a proven attacker in the summer to add more quality in the offensive unit. This should be someone who can play the role of a catalyst behind the club’s overall chance creation in the final third.
Does Mkhitaryan fit the bill?
Mkhitaryan is indeed advertised as a dynamic attacker, who likes to play direct and take on defenders in the final third. He is known for his technical prowess, which is coupled with his ability to dribble past opposing defenders.
However, what made Mkhitaryan a failure at Arsenal is his lack of consistency. The Armenian international hasn’t been able to replicate his performances from the Bundesliga in the English top flight. Moreover, he has suffered from a host of fitness problems throughout this season.
Hence, Mkhitaryan’s lack of game-time poses question marks over his capability of performing at a top-level next season. And with that in mind, it would perhaps be wiser for Arteta to cash in on the playmaker in the summer. His departure would surely allow Arsenal to free up some of the wage budget, thus allowing them to sign new players in the market.
If there is one player Arsenal should really pursue in the summer, it is James Rodriguez of Real Madrid. His teammate Isco could also be a viable option for the Gunners. Of course, this is our wishlist, and it would be difficult to lure in such players if the North London side fails to qualify for the Champions League again.
