Arsenal: Selling Emiliano Martinez or Bernd Leno necessary

Emiliano Martinez has performed brilliantly in Bernd Leno’s stead. As Arsenal enter a crucial summer transfer window, selling one of the pair has become necessary.

It is quite evident that Arsenal will have to raise their own funds this summer. They, of course, run themselves in a self-sustainable model that relies on the revenues of the club to fund transfer investment and other spending in the facilities and infrastructure of the organisation. This year, though, their finances will truly be put to the test.

With regards to the squad, it means that the Gunners must sell before they buy — or at least sell before they buy big. As Liverpool, Chelsea and others have proven, ‘outsmarting the market’, as head of football Raul Sanllehi puts it, starts with intelligent sales that help fund purchases. Arsenal, then, must find the right assets to offload such that they can then spend in other areas of the squad.

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The make-up of the team at present features few high-ticket assets. The star players are either older, on extortionate wages, or have contracts that expire soon, all of which reduces their value, and the younger, higher-value players are still a part of the Mikel Arteta rebuild and would need to be replaced should they be sold. It leaves the club with few players who they can sell and make valuable profit on without having to simply replace them with the money raised.

One position where that might be possible, however, is goalkeeper. Arsenal have two excellent shot-stoppers, both of which are more than capable of starting in the Premier League. Having one sit on the bench, therefore, is a waste of resources.

Bernd Leno is the assumed starter. The German has been excellent since he arrived two years ago and was on course to be named Arsenal’s Player of the Season this year before he suffered a knee injury that has kept him out of the remainder of the year.

In his stead, though, Emiliano Martinez has been even more impressive. The Argentine is younger and far less experienced, and his performance level is taken over a much smaller sample size, but his recent outings have been excellent, including against Watford on Sunday. In his post-match press conference, Arteta confirmed that Martinez would start next weekend’s FA Cup final:

"“Emi has earned his place with another brilliant performance today again when the team needed him. He made some fantastic saves, Bernd is still recovering from his injury, so Emi is the one now.”"

Arteta was then asked whether that would be a long-term switch. He dodged the question:

"“In football, a week is too much, so let’s hope he is available for the game, and if that’s the case he will start.”"

That Arteta is even asked about potentially dropping Leno even when he returns from injury is a testament to Martinez’s performances. It also goes to show how valuable the two goalkeepers are at present. This is where Arsenal can eke out the most bang for their buck.

Keeping both and having one sit on the bench, whoever that may be, has limited value. Selling one and using that money to invest in a starting outfield player, however, could substantially improve the team. In this instance, Matt Macey could be promoted into a deputy role or the club simply signs a much cheaper back-up option.

Martinez might fetch north of £30 million thanks to his recent run. Leno would likely cost £50-plus million as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League. That money could be critical in signing an elite playmaker, winger, or centre-back.

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Of course, Arsenal are extremely fortunate to have two excellent goalkeepers. But given that only one can start in any match, keeping both has limited value. Instead, offloading one and reinvesting that money is the smart move here. Who that may be, however, is a very different question entirely.

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