Arsenal: Laurent Koscielny the half-right ruthlessness

Arsenal are reportedly considering selling Laurent Koscielny to Borussia Dortmund. There have been calls for the club to be more ruthless, but is Koscielny the right kind of ruthless?

As Unai Emery goes about gutting the Arsenal squad and rebuilding it in his own image, there have been plenty of calls from fans for him to ruthless in his decision making. For far too long, the club was hesitant to move on from players. It cost them, both on the pitch and in the transfer market.

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And so, with the resignation of Arsene Wenger last summer, it was presumed that Emery usher in this much-desired clinical streak. There were hints of it in his management during his first season at the helm. Mesut Ozil was given enough rope to hang himself and little more, there was less patience for subpar performances, and inner-squad competition was encouraged.

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When it comes to the moves made in the transfer window, however, Emery has not yet had the chance to unveil his personnel plans. This summer will greatly illustrate how he wants to change the squad, starting with those that he will sell — or try to sell, at the very least.

One slightly surprising name that has surfaced in recent days is Laurent Koscielny. The club captain enjoyed the greatest season of his career — not for the standard of his performances but because of what he has overcome to simply take to the pitch again. Selling him would be a little odd, right?

Well, yes, in theory. It would certainly show the ruthless side that fans have been calling for. But would it be the right kind of ruthlessness? There is a fine line between being decisive and purposeful and rash and impatient.

There are arguments to be made for selling Koscielny. He is 33 — and will turn 34 by September. His body has been breaking down for many years and can no longer handle the rigours of weekly football. Borussia Dortmund are reportedly very keen on signing him. There is the potential of a £10 million fee. He is in the last year of his contract.

And yet, there is a nagging feeling that this is the wrong type of ruthlessness. Koscielny is an extremely popular figure in the dressing room, he is the longest-serving player still at the club, was excellent for stretches last season, far more so than Shkodran Mustafi, and could surely still be useful in a veteran, reserve role.

There just seems to be something slightly off with suggesting that he should be sold this summer. But then, I guess if you are making ruthless decisions, you are going to commit to choices that are not particularly pleasant ones.

Is selling Koscielny the right kind of ruthlessness? I am not really sure. But that is the question that Emery must be asking himself regarding every single player in the squad. Just how ruthless is he going to be?