Arsenal: Stephan Lichtsteiner and Nacho Monreal now synonymous

If Arsenal are going to fully transition into a new era, they are going to have to cut ties with non-essential personnel. That lumps Stephan Lichtsteiner and Nacho Monreal together.

I was thrilled when Arsenal landed Stephan Lichtsteiner on a free. The experience, the winning mentality, the general ‘meanness’ made him a win no matter what. I vehemently disagree with the assessment that he’s been a flop. It’s more a matter of Unai Emery figuring out what the aging Swiss defender is still capable of.

He’s no longer a fullback, but rather a right-sided centerback in a back three, preserving his preferred side, utilizing his strong defensive instincts, but eliminating the need to be as active as a Premier League fullback needs to be.

Nacho Monreal is in the same boat. I wouldn’t consider him a fullback anymore. He’s the inverse of Lichsteiner, a left-sided centerback in a back three, preserving his defensive instincts and preferred side while eliminating the need to be as active as he used to be.

Lichtsteiner is 35, Monreal 33. Both are out of contract at the end of this year and both have openly discussed staying at the club or leaving as potential options for their near future.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

At this point in their careers, they both can be lumped into the same argument. Each of the two only needs to be maintained in absolute desperation. For Lichtsteiner, he already has Hector Bellerin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles to contend with, and honestly I’d prefer Shkodran Mustafi as a rightback as well.

The only way that Monreal differs from Lichtsteiner is that he only has Sead Kolasinac in front of him, but if Emery (or whoever ends up as Technical Director) plays his cards right, Monreal will find similar obstacles as well.

Meaning that there really isn’t a good, hearty reason to extend either of their contracts. Part of transitioning to a new era is cutting out non-essential personnel, and both of these guys would fall under that umbrella. Their presence is certainly valued, and they may still get a go when the club is in a pinch, but building out from the aged veterans and into eager, younger talent will serve Emery far better than clinging to the aged.

However you want to jazz it up, neither is needed, and neither should be maintained. Unless there is just no possible way that the club can’t find move forward without them.