Arsenal: 5 extra players to sell if Gunners lose FA Cup final

1. A striker

It is likely that Arsenal will be forced into selling one of Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this summer whether they have European football or not. They both have tricky contract situations, are towards the back-end of their primes, and this is the last summer in which both will carry some form of value in the transfer market.

However, in that scenario, Arsenal would need to replace one or both of them with younger options. Without European football, they could let one leave and not even need to bring in another goalscorer. They could sell both and just sign one replacement to cover both positions.

With Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Martinelli waiting in the wings, as well as the anticipated development of Nicolas Pepe and Bukayo Saka potentially turning into a left-winger, Arsenal have young options across the front line. As such, it makes sense to sell at least one of Lacazette and Aubameyang and only replace them if both are sold. The money raised can be invested in a centre-back, central midfielder or more natural winger.

Arsenal will not need two elite centre-forwards. The young players can be their depth and either a replacement or the other who is not sold leads the line. Rotation is not as important, while finding quality, not quantity, is. No European football, then, changes everything. Let’s hope that it doesn’t come to this.