Arsenal: 17 players on loan or with 2023 contract expiry

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta reacts during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium in London on May 23, 2021. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Alastair Grant / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by ALASTAIR GRANT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

7 of 17

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 06: Joe Willock of Newcastle United reacts during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Southampton at St. James Park. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images) /

Joe Willock

This is the big one. The unavoidable morale dilemma.

Whatever one’s viewpoint on Joe Willock’s future, you can’t help but appreciate both sides of the debate. On one hand, he’s doing exactly what every midfielder at Arsenal has failed to do for years: the lack of goals from midfield is shocking and whoever joins the club in the summer must start providing that. He’s in the form of his life, shouldn’t this be his chance to do that for his boyhood club?

60 games as an Arsenal player and 13 as a Newcastle player have brought up entirely different results. Why? Because of the system and because of Willock’s role. As the right-sided No. 8 at Newcastle in a midfield trio, his primary task is what he is best at: driving and arriving.

In order for those traits to flourish at Arsenal there has to be a systematic change as neither one of a double pivot or as a No. 10 would suit him. His value has never been higher and may never rise higher. It’s an unpopular decision but this summer calls for just that.

Willock is an Arsenal boy and it always hurts bidding them farewell. Sentiment has to be put to the side. £30m would make a huge difference.

Verdict: Sell

Home/Arsenal News