Arsenal could be set to sell some talented players in the summer window, and Mikel Arteta faces some tough decisions.
The club may end up selling the homegrown trio of Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe, given that they will represent pure profit in terms of profit and sustainability rules.
Thomas Partey has also been touted with an exit, after missing most of the campaign through injury. The 30-year-old has one year left on his deal, and has shown that he cannot be relied upon despite his obvious quality.
He has come back into the starting XI and performed well, which has raised questions over whether Arsenal should keep him, and former Gunner and analyst Adrian Clarke has warned of the dangers of selling such a strong performer.
Adrian Clarke explains only scenario in which Arsenal should sell Thomas Partey
Speaking on the Handbrake Off Podcast, Clarke claimed that losing Partey could be a huge blow even if a new midfielder comes in, and should only be sold for a significant fee.
“We’ve not got great numbers of central midfielders, so I think we’ve got to be careful not to leave ourselves too light,” he stated.
“What if something happened to Declan Rice and we’ve already sold Thomas Partey? I think the signing of a central midfielder would be one of the priorities this summer, obviously we’ve been hearing names like Zubimendi from Real Sociedad and Bruno Guimaraes at Newcastle United.
“I would expect someone of that calibre to come in, but I would prefer it if they were coming in for Elneny or Lokonga, and that we potentially keep Jorginho and Partey. It’s a long old season and it’s tough challenging for the Premier League and Champions League at the same time, you need depth.
“Providing that there’s not a major fitness worry or concern over Thomas Partey, I’d be inclined to keep him. That said, if the Saudis came in and offered silly money, then I would envisage this scenario where we maybe did cash in, and then bring in maybe two central midfielders this summer.”
Arsenal should cash in on Thomas Partey
Although a fully-fit Thomas Partey would be one of Arsenal’s best players, and an excellent option to have in case Declan Rice was unavailable, he has failed to prove his fitness across multiple campaigns.
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If he stayed at the club, on his substantial wage, and picked up another injury, then Arsenal will have not only incurred a cost on the wage bill, but they will also have shown that they have not learned from previous mistakes of trusting injury-prone players.
Rice, Jorginho and another signing such as Martin Zubimendi could be enough for the number six role, with the likes of Fabio Vieira and Leandro Trossard also capable of playing at number eight. If Partey leaves, and a midfielder who can stay fit for most of the season comes in, Arsenal will benefit.