Arsenal are planning some significant changes to their first-team squad and according to Martin Keown, David Luiz and Shkodran Mustafi might have run their race at the club.
Reports have suggested that Luiz’s contract tenure is up at the end of this season and he will then be allowed to leave as a free agent. And rumours of Mustafi’s exit have also been doing the round for some months now.
According to Martin Keown, the two players have do not have much to give to the club which is why Mikel Arteta should look to send them out in the summer.
“David Luiz concerns me because if you’re going to pay £8m for him and pay £5m wages and he’s only going to be there for one season, I’m not sure about the wisdom of that,” Keown told talkSPORT, as quoted by Express.
“Is he a proper defender? Can he really play in a back four? His best football, of course, was when he was in a back three at Chelsea when they won the Premier League [in 2016/17].
“I think it’s the most crucial area which [Arteta] has to get right. Holding’s been injured, it’s hard to judge him, probably deserves another opportunity.
“I believe Sokratis could be a useful defender, not somebody that I would want to get rid of, but I can understand the uncertainty of giving David Luiz a new deal because the money will dictate and of course that might be as a result of this virus. But is he good enough or not?
“Do they now start to be really harsh and make those key decisions? Is David Luiz the answer going forward? If he’s not then he has to go now.
“I have to have respect for people, I do believe there are leadership skills there [with Luiz],
“But he doesn’t enjoy being in wide positions in the back four, he tends to bring people down and Mustafi, listen Arteta has got a bit of a tune out of him but we know Mustafi isn’t quite at the level as well. But that’s being healthily respectful.
“You go to a football club, you have to make your mark and if it doesn’t happen you have to hold your hands up. I think both players [will have to do that]. I can’t see that being a long-term partnership in the Arsenal defence.”
Should Arsenal look to sell the duo in the summer?
David Luiz and Shkodran Mustafi have not been great during the 2019-20 season and with players like Saliba and Pablo Mari coming in, Arteta clearly has no need for these players next campaign.
While the salary, like Keown said, is a big dilemma for the Arsenal hierarchy but as far as we understand, Arteta wants players who can work with the side on a long-term basis.
Also, the Gunners currently have a string of central defenders at their disposal(including players like Sokratis and Rob Holding) plus their manager might be looking to bring in a few others as well. So it obviously makes sense to clear out all the deadwood before the 2020-21 season kicks off.
