Arsenal: Top 5 players to be sold this summer

3. Alex Iwobi

Alex Iwobi will turn 22 in a little over a month. Contrastingly, it is a little over two years ago that he burst onto the scene with that remarkable performance against Barcelona in the last-16 of the Champions League. What’s gone wrong?

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Not only in that one match, Iwobi was excellent for a sustained period between Barcelona and the end of that season. Quick, direct, intelligent, and creative, he displayed all of the natural traits to suggest that he could develop into a truly top-tier attacking midfielder. Based on recent showings, he is a very different player nowadays.

I am all in favour of being patient with young, developing players. Form will come and go. Inconsistency is just a part of the process. But there comes a time where one players’ stagnation stops the progress of another. Is it time, for instance, to see Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah, Jeff Reine-Adelaide and Gedion Zelalem given the vast opportunities that Iwobi has been afforded?

It’s a very fair question to ask indeed. Perhaps a sale is a little harsh. Iwobi is still extremely talented. That is undeniable. So maybe a loan would be better suited. But change is certainly required.