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Arsenal: 3 reasons to sell Joe Willock

By Ross Kennerley

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Joe Willock of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Europa League Group B stage match between Arsenal FC and Dundalk FC at Emirates Stadium on October 29, 2020 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Joe Willock of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Europa League Group B stage match between Arsenal FC and Dundalk FC at Emirates Stadium on October 29, 2020 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Joe Willock
Newcastle United’s English midfielder Joe Willock celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Sheffield United. (Photo by STU FORSTER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

2. Joe Willock’s Incredible Form Can’t be Sustained

What Willock has done in these six months is remarkable. Truly. Anyone who can score in seven consecutive Premier League fixtures is not doing so on pure luck. Yes, the ball may bounce the right way on occasion but only those with true predatory instincts can be hitting those numbers. Timo Werner can only dream.

It just isn’t sustainable. If Willock hit eight goals in the entire season then the management department would be over the moon. Aaron Ramsey scored ten in 23 appearances during the 2013/14 campaign and that won him the Player of the Season award (he did contribute more outside of the top-flight, of course) and since supporters have been yearning for another midfielder to hit such numbers.

Given the scarcity of goals in the current crop, even just two would constitute an improvement.

Should Willock go on to match the numbers – or come close – that he’s achieving then those who doubt he can sustain it deserve to eat a wagon load of humble pie. However, it just isn’t realistic, 78 prior Arsenal games, albeit majorly substitute appearances, indicate so.

Do we judge him off of what he had produced for Arsenal in the larger sample size or the stunning run of form he contributed with in the 13 games he had at the Magpies? It’s hard to overlook the former and that builds into the third and final point.

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