Arsenal: The case for selling each and every player this summer

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 02: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the UEFA Europa League Semi Final First Leg match between Arsenal and Valencia at Emirates Stadium on May 02, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 02: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the UEFA Europa League Semi Final First Leg match between Arsenal and Valencia at Emirates Stadium on May 02, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Laurent Koscielny
(Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images) /

Laurent Koscielny

It feels almost dirty to have to put him on the list, but in the gaming spirit of making the case for every player to be sold, I will now make the case for Laurent Koscielny to be sold, just one year before he can run out his contract and, perhaps, retire happily as a Gunner.

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I didn’t expect much from Koscielny this year, but he was an absolute mammoth. All the disappointment that came with him last year was eviscerated this year, as he did a tremendous job anchoring a truly poor defense, and giving some hope where there was once none. When he was paired with Sokratis, he really showed up, and as fans, we could actually believe in what he was doing.

But he is a battered man. He can’t stay healthy and if we do keep him next year, which we absolutely should, he may only be able to feature for maybe 1000 minutes, 1500 tops. He just isn’t able to handle that much.

Given the desperate state here at Arsenal, if we can swindle a decent fee for him, why not sell him in service to the club, all in the name of moving on – and fast?

Okay, now what I have sullied myself by making that case, here are the facts:

Will we sell? No.
Should we sell? No.
Ideal transfer fee: £15m

A few more centerbacks yet to talk about, but let’s start with Rob Holding.