Arsenal: Is Henrikh Mkhitaryan really that impossible to sell?

Arsenal are racing the deadline to sell off some last minute dead weight, so why are we still not marketing Henrikh Mkhitaryan?

I admire Arsenal‘s steadfastness in trying to get a deal for Shkodran Mustafi done, especially with how hard it must be to drum up interest in him. And drawing up deals for Mohamed Elneny and Nacho Monreal is pretty astute and practical as well. I understand that Mesut Ozil is stuck in at the club, as much as I don’t like it.

But as For Henrikh Mkhitaryan, I really don’t get it. I’ve heard that Unai Emery values the veteran leadership that Mkhitaryan brings to the squad, but regardless, why hasn’t there been more of an effort to offload him in favor of a young option, perhaps clearing the way for more reliable game time for Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith Rowe or Gabriel Martinelli?

All summer long, the rumors were relatively nonexistent. And then he starts in the opening match against Newcastle and he’s far and away the worst performer.

Mkhitaryan has been underperforming for awhile now. He is an immensely talented attacker with gobs of creativity, but it just isn’t working at the Emirates. He had about a month last year where he was simply unstoppable, but the rest of the time he was as he was against Newcastle.

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

The European transfer windows close in the coming days and Mkhitaryan remains a commodity that I don’t think Arsenal want to maintain. I get that he’s making a lot of money, but not as much as Ozil, who has proven unmovable.

Still, there have been rumors that Ozil could move to MLS, while Mkhitaryan has gotten the big ol’ nothing. If you live by rumors alone (which I don’t recommend), Mkhitaryan has never been in danger of leaving the club.

And that’s what I truly find confusing. What does Emery see in Mkhitaryan that he can’t find in someone else, someone more promising, more useful? If it’s veteran leadership, then why is it that it’s always Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette that are getting praised for their “big brother-ing” and not Mkhitaryan?

Any time Mkhiteryan takes the pitch, I’m hit with that cautious optimism, like it could be one of those rare, world-bending days that he plays truly remarkable. But those days are becoming less and less frequent.

I don’t know what the objective is in keeping him. Maybe he’s meant to be our midweek maestro.