3 senior players that should leave after Alexandre Lacazette’s departure

2. Granit Xhaka

The name in this spot is sure to ruffle some feathers. Granit Xhaka has been the most important player in the squad since Arteta took the reins. His flexibility has proven invaluable, his performances have been remarkably consistent and his ability to stay fit and available is incredibly underrated. This is without mentioning his intangible qualities. His leadership and professionalism have been important in a club experiencing such drastic change on and off the pitch.

While stable, Xhaka will not take this club to the next level. The weaknesses in his game when deployed in his new box-to-box role have been well-documented as has his ability to contribute regularly in the final third.

To challenge for football’s highest honours, teams cannot settle for being ‘good’. They must strive to be great. Unfortunately for Xhaka, his game is too limited to continue being a starting midfielder for an Arsenal team looking to challenge for the top four and beyond.

Staying as a senior squad player would be ideal for the club but is unlikely to be rewarding enough for the Swiss international.

Continued on the next slide…