Five players Gunners boss Wenger may axe when the transfer window re-opens in the New Year.
Nicklas Bendtner
The Dane’s fate depends largely on Wenger’s willingness to enter the transfer market for a new striker. With Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski both fit and among the goals again, the pressure on Olivier Giroud has lifted slightly in recent weeks but the Frenchman remains Arsenal’s only senior centre forward other than than Bendtner.
The Denmark international returned from a dreadful loan spell at Juventus overweight and determined to leave the Emirates Stadium but Arsenal’s failure to land a striker in the summer forced Wenger to block a variety of moves for Bendtner. He has done little in the past six months to suggest he has enough quality to provide adequate back-up for Giroud and should be sold if the club can sign a replacement.
Emmanuel Frimpong
The midfielder, 21, has been with Arsenal since he was 9 but has made a grand total of six Premier League appearances. After loan spells at Wolves, Charlton and Fulham, and some unfortunate injuries, Frimpong now seems more interested in social media than playing football. His contract is up in the summer and Wenger will likely accept any bids for the 1-cap Ghana international next month.
Ryo Miyaichi
There is still time for the 21-year-old Japan international to come good at the Emirates Stadium but with the amount of competition ahead of him for a place on the wing, it seems unlikely Ryo will succeed at Arsenal. The tricky youngster has impressed during loan spells at Feyenoord, Bolton and Wigan in the past two seasons, and unsurprisingly featured heavily in the Gunners’ pre-season tour of Asia. But Ryo hasn’t got a look-in this season and may be allowed to depart if the club receives a decent offer in January.
Thomas Vermaelen
After being dropped last season and missing the start of this campaign through injury, club captain Vermaelen has struggled to get any playing time in the Arsenal first team. Vermaelen has impressed in the last two games against Chelsea and West Ham but when Laurent Koscielny returns to fitness, the 28-year-old will once again be relegated to the bench.
Belgium’s boss Marc Wilmots has warned his squad that they must be playing regular first team football ahead of next summer’s World Cup in Brazil, leaving to several players, including Kevin de Bruyne, angling for January moves. If Vermaelen decides to ask for a transfer in the New Year, Wenger may oblige if the Frenchman can find a replacement.
Park Chu-Young
The South Korea international has arguably been one Arsene Wenger’s worst ever signings. Park arrived from AS Monaco on transfer deadline day in August 2011 but has made just one league appearance for the club. It seems bizarre that the 28-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Celta Vigo, did not leave in the summer but Wenger will surely seek to get him off the wage bill in January.
[Fanatix]