Among the many banners, which the small group of Arsenal fans had put up during their protest march from the Old Highbury home to new Emirates Stadium last evening, was one “All good things come to an end”; and it has pretty much summed up the aftermath of Arsenal’s defeat to Bayern Munich, again.
Arsene Wenger has been hugely responsible for the strong foundation Arsenal are standing on today. Their consistency in the top four and regular involvement in the elite European tournament is something neither of the current top six clubs can boast of. And the 67-year-old has used this achievement as a shield to maintain his position in the club for the last five years.
And something tells us that Arsenal had to experience something extreme like Tuesday’s defeat to trigger his exit from the helm. His chances of leaving the club, whether this week or at the end of the season, has quadrupled as a consequence. However, as many critics stated after Arsenal’s exit from the Champions League knockout round of 16 for the seventh season in a row, the manager is just the façade who takes the stick and mending the situation would need much more than the departure of the boss, which includes the board staff and undoubtedly some players.
Here are 3 players we think should be asked to leave the club at the end of the season-
Nacho Monreal
There are good fullbacks and there are world-class full-backs. And given Arsenal’s stature and financial prowess, they deserve a world class player in that position. Though Monreal has been quite assured at times, he is just not a big game player who carries a presence and seems like the missing piece of Arsenal’s backline puzzle. After Gael Clichy left Emirates in 2011, Wenger has failed to bring in players who had similar flair and instinct.
Olivier Giroud
Though he has just extended his contract with the club two months back in January, he is definitely not the man Arsenal need. A good look at the team who are genuinely contending for the league and European title and one would easily realise that Arsenal doesn’t have a lethal strike force to take them on. Though the 30-year-old French international has scored some crucial goals for the Gunners this season, he can do little on his own when he has the ball up front.
Alexis Sanchez
Now, there is no doubt about his ability with and without the ball but his attitude could be a deadly weapon hidden up in his armour that will finish him as well as the club. And one would rather save the club from such disaster than the player. Arsenal have come down a long way potential-wise since the days of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp and it is true that Sanchez has been the closest to that lot in recent times. But, barring Lionel Messi in current world football, we don’t think anyone is irreplaceable and Sanchez features on that list.
