Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta backed to sell three stars during transfer window

Posted Sunday, December 22, 2019 by Express.co.uk

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta backed to sell three stars during transfer window
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been backed to sell three players in the transfer market (Image: GETTY)

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will have a number of big decisions to make on the future of several of his first team players.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been backed to sell Granit Xhaka, Mesut Ozil and David Luiz when deciding who stays and who is cut from his Gunners squad by pundit Shaka Hislop. The former midfielder who retired in 2016 was appointed as the club’s new permanent manager on Friday.

Arteta was in the stands to watch his side in action against former club Everton in a dour affair on Merseyside which finished goalless.

The performance suggests that there is plenty of work that needs to be done in the upcoming transfer windows, with Arsenal lacking a clear goal threat and any source of creativity.

ESPN FC pundit Shaka Hislop was asked to work his way through eight Arsenal players and decide who he thinks Arteta should keep and sell.

The first to make way, was Xhaka who was stripped of the captaincy earlier this season by Unai Emery.

“I’d be having those talks right now on his behalf if I was Arteta,” Hislop said.

“There is absolutely not reason for me to keep Granit Xhaka.

“Nothing about what he’s given to Arsenal football club suggests that he should be here past January 2nd to be honest.”

Freddie Ljungberg said ahead of the 0-0 draw at Everton that Ozil would not have travelled to Merseyside even if he wasn’t ill.

They were damning words from the Swede who is going out swinging from his interim role.

And Hislop believes Arsenal are causing themselves a problem if they continue to persist with the German.

“I don’t think in tough games and in tight games and physical games, that Mesut Ozil gives you enough,” Hislop added.

“I also understand the other side of that argument in that probably as a creator and as a world class talent, Arsenal don’t have many better.

“The other issue with Mesut Ozil is that in trying to attract talent, real talent and world class talent, everybody who comes is going to ask for Mesut Ozil money.

“Why he is still on your books, everybody is right in their approach to ask for Mesut Ozil money.”

Unfortunately for David Luiz, he was another player to fall victim to Hislop’s swing of the axe.

“David Luiz gives me absolutely nothing,” the former goalkeeper said.“

As surprising as he was at Chelsea in that first season (back after re-signing), I was similarly bemused when Conte signed him for Chelsea but he came good.

“But then David Luiz regressed towards more what we know David Luiz to be this year.

“He’s giving me absolutely nothing.”

Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Hector Bellerin, Nicolas Pepe and Dani Ceballos were all back to stay at the club.