Arsenal: 5 bold predictions for squad rebuild

1. Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah become key

At present, Arsenal have been entirely dependent on Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette to produce goals. The pair have delivered on the front, especially Aubameyang. But Aubameyang will be 31 this summer while Lacazette turns 29. Both have contracts that require decisions to be made regarding their futures.

Because of their age and contracts, it is increasingly likely that neither will play key roles in Arteta’s rebuild. In fact, I predict that both will leave the club within the next two summer transfer windows. In their departures, Arsenal will turn to two young starlets in the goalscoring department: Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah.

Whether they play together, likely with Martinelli moving to the left flank, or rotate, both have the same wonderful knack for finding space in the penalty area to score goals. Martinelli is Arsenal’s second-highest scorer this season in all competitions, while Nketiah has three goals in his five starts.

The pair will be Arsenal’s goalscoring future. Arteta will lean on them heavily, both next season and in future years.