Arsenal: The best part about Willian summer departure

Willian, less than 12 months on from arriving at Arsenal, is nearing the exit door. The biggest stain on Mikel Arteta’s short managerial career is nearing its conclusion after one of the worst transfer decisions was followed by further inexplicable persistence.

I swear you’ll never see anything like this ever again. So watch it, drink it in.

It’s a story that has no happy ending. There will be a big financial hit. A full season of frustration can’t be erased from the mind but it can be erased from the pitch. Shifting Willian will be no easy feat yet the growing talk of a desired cutting of ties from all parties has built hope.

What will the best part of a summer departure for Willian be? Willian leaving, of course.

The best part about a potential summer departure for Willian at Arsenal is there being no need for a replacement

But beyond that, in a summer where there are vast outgoings of fringe players and underperforming stars, there will also be multiple incomings to supplement those moves. In the case of Granit Xhaka, his seemingly inevitable departure has to be tended to in the transfer window.

Arsenal can’t afford to lose a player of his importance without an upgrade in sight. It’s the same at right-back, as with Hector Bellerin leaving another of his position needs bringing in to become first choice.

What’s so brilliant about the prospect of Willian departing this summer is that there needn’t be someone else joining. Arsenal have no reason to replace him.

Clocking up a stupid amount of minutes this season, while they should have been distributed elsewhere anyway, heading into 2021/22 without European football ensures the Brazilian’s exit can be just that: a big salary off the wage bill and time on the pitch given to those deserving of them.

Gabriel Martinelli is due for regular minutes in the first team even if Willian stays, while Nicolas Pepe is in his richest vein of form since joining the Gunners and has already cemented his place as a certified starter in the team.

With or without Willian, full focus on a 38-game Premier League season has no room for him, and no need for a place being filled. A smaller squad with more value placed on those who can operate in multiple positions, Arsenal can use the freed wages on acquiring talent elsewhere.

There is still a long way to go for the 32-year-old to be moved on, but the growing encouragement of a mutually agreed departure boasts only positive aspects. One out…..one out.