Arsenal are now at risk of lacking one key ingredient from their squad next season due to likely summer transfer activity.
Arsenal already boast a very young squad.
Key players such as Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, William Saliba, and Gabriel Martinelli, amongst others, are all aged 25 or under.
Meanwhile, the only players aged 30 or over in Mikel Arteta’s squad are Jorginho, Mohamed Elneny, Cedric Soares, and Thomas Partey.
Jorginho has recently penned a new contract with Arsenal. However, Elneny and Cedric will both certainly leave the club in the coming weeks upon the expiry of their contracts. On top of that Arteta must seek to move Partey on this summer.
The Ghanaian midfielder’s recurrent injury issues mean that he cannot be relied upon to be available when needed, and he has struggled to impress at times in recent weeks. His fitness issues make him a burden on the squad, and an upgrade is required. Partey has been linked with an Arsenal exit before, and if a buyer comes forward this summer then the Gunners need to let him go.
However, if Partey is to join Elneny and Cedric in leaving the club then that will mean a lot of experience is exiting the Emirates Stadium in one go. Whilst Cedric and Elneny have been bit-part figures on the pitch this season, Arteta has relied upon the duo behind the scenes. They are important individuals in the dressing room.
Arsenal risk experience void if Thomas Partey follows Mohamed Elneny and Cedric Soares out of the club
As they are now vying for the biggest prizes in the game, the North London outfit need experience in their ranks now more than ever. Players who have won things in the past and know what it takes to get over the line could prove crucial to guiding the Gunners’ youngsters to success.
Whilst squad improvement is necessary, Arteta needs to be careful that a balance between youthful exuberance and proven experience still exists within his ranks next season. That may mean that he and sporting director Edu alter their approach in the transfer market this summer and consider raising the age profile of their targets.
Mikel Arteta needs new leaders to emerge in Arsenal squad
It is true, however, that the full Arsenal squad will have gained plenty of valuable experience this season from having run Manchester City so close in the Premier League title race.
The exits of Elneny and Cedric, potentially to be followed by Partey, also opens the door for the likes of 29-year-old Leandro Trossard and 28-year-old David Raya to step up as elder statesmen and embrace leadership roles at the club.