Arsenal: This ruthlessness was long overdue

Unai Emery was very forthright when discussing the futures of Shkodran Mustafi and Mohamed Elneny in a recent press conference. The Arsenal head coach showed a ruthlessness that is long overdue.

Arsenal head coach Unai Emery confirmed that the club would like to sell Mohamed Elneny and Shkodran Mustafi before the European transfer window shuts on September 2nd. The Spaniard laid down the law in a recent press conference, and it continues a trend of ruthlessness that was evident in the club’s summer dealings.

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Here is a transcript of Emery had to say:

"“We have some players and they know their situation. For example, Elneny and Mustafi, they know their situation in the squad. I want the players to be happy here, I want the players to be protagonists here, and last year, for example, with Mustafi and Mo, when they didn’t play, they weren’t happy.More from Pain in the Arsenal3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victoryArsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison ParkMikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton winI spoke with them a lot of times last year in this position and I think it is positive for them to leave and to sign for another team where they can be protagonists, they can be happy and can continue their careers as players.They are very big players but here for one circumstance or another circumstance they are going to have less chances to show their capacity or to be happy with us taking minutes of playing matches. They know the situation, I am wishing the best for them and I think now the best for them is to be protagonists in another team, to sign and to get another challenge for them and continue with another team.But with [a lot of] respect, they are training with us but they know their situation and I am wishing only the best for them.”"

This ruthlessness is long overdue. I really liked what Arsenal did this summer. Raul Sanllehi was ruthless in his summer dealings. Besides addressing positions of need in a thrifty manner, they were aggressive in getting players out the door. The decisions of the previous regime — in regards to the egalitarian wage bill — forced their hand. While I understand that some may not like this callous approach, this is business. It does not make sense for Arsenal to pay players whom they deem surplus to requirements. The pair have not been named in a matchday squad so far this season, and Emery has made it clear that they will not feature regularly.

At this stage, it is a foregone conclusion that Arsenal will make a loss on Mustafi, but they know that and I think that they are now prepared to bite the bullet. Arsenal accepted cut-price deals for David Ospina, Laurent Koscielny, Takuma Asano, and Carl Jenkinson this summer, and I would have no problem with them doing so with Mustafi and Elneny. It would be disappointing if both men were still at the club after the closing of the European window.

Furthermore, some on Twitter argued that it was not good for Arsenal to broadcast this information. I agree with this to a certain extent, but this announcement does not really change anything. Clubs will have known that Elneny and Mustafi were available. Arsenal had no leverage to lose in the first place.

At this stage, Arsenal must simply wipe their hands of the pair. Mustafi has proven himself to be error-prone and Elneny is too far down the midfield pecking order. Any transfer fees received for the pair would go a long way in helping to improve the squad in future transfer windows and offload some hefty wages.

This ruthlessness has been needed for some time, and we are finally seeing it in action.