4 players that Arsenal should offload this summer (apart from Ozil)

This season Arsenal have been quite inconsistent. They started off with two losses in the Premier League against Manchester City and Chelsea and then went on to a twenty-two match unbeaten streak. Since then, it has gone downhill again as the Gunners displayed some poor performances against Southampton, West Ham, Man United and recently against BATE Borisov in the Europa League.

Arsenal are currently fifth in the league table only one point off that Champions League spot. While injuries to the likes of Holding and Bellerin have played a big part in their recent struggles, one can't deny that some of their first-team regulars are just not good/consistent enough. While the Ozil-Emery saga still continues and it does look like the end of the road for the German's time at the Emirates, Arsenal still need to offload many players out in the summer and strengthen their squad.

For a self-sustaining nature that the Gunners have adopted under the Kroenke regime, many players are currently on high wages, which limited their transfer activity in the January transfer market, so here are four players that Arsenal should offload this summer:

#4 Danny Welbeck

The 28 year old was looking like a good squad player as he was constantly scoring goals coming from the bench. Welbeck was providing star strikers Aubameyang and Lacazette some time to breath by starting games in Europa and League cups. His season was cut short because of that horrific injury against Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League.

The England international's contract runs down after 4 months and Arsenal should not make the mistake of offering another contract to him. Emile Smith Rowe will essentially come back from his loan spell next season from Leipzig and can fill that backup striker role easily. Welbeck's 5-year contract with Arsenal also includes an estimated £70,000 a week salary. That's too much for a squad player and will certainly help the Gunners overcome their FFP wage bill issues.

#3 Henrikh Mkhitaryan

The Armenian never really achieved those heights in English football which he was expected to during his Borussia Dortmund days. Apart from lack of creativity, he gives the ball away way too many times and always looks for the safest option when it comes to playmaking rather than try something out of the world.

The former Manchester United man joined Arsenal last January as a part of an infamous swap-deal with Alexis Sanchez. Selling him may seem a little harsh as this is his first full season at Arsenal, but it undoubtedly is a good option as he still has a contract till 2021 and still possesses a market value of between $25-30 million.

The Gunners are famous for letting contracts run down and then letting the players leave on a free transfer. The recent Aaron Ramsey to Juventus deal is a prime example of it. So they should make sure that they don't make the same mistake again and offload Mkhi in the summer.

#2 Ainsley Maitland-Niles

The 21-years-old has been one of the unluckiest players in the whole Arsenal squad as the English winger has never got to play in his natural position, right-wing. This season due to Bellerin's injury and Lichtsteiner's poor form, Maitland-Niles has covered the right-back position for the Gunners.

It is the best decision for both parties as Reiss Nelson will be returning from his loan spell at the end of the season from Hoffenheim and would be considered for that winger spot over Maitland-Niles. He is 21 and could restart his career with any other club.

For Arsenal, they could get a decent amount of money Niles if they put him on the summer transfer list. If at all Niles wouldn't want to leave his boyhood club, a loan spell for 2-3 years could be an option for that kind of situation.

#1 Shkodran Mustafi

Mustafi signed a five-year deal at Valencia in August 2014 and moved to Arsenal for a reported £35 million two years later. Many Gunners were excited to see the German centre-back but he has been disappointing so far. One doesn't need to be a pundit to know that Arsenal's defence has let them down this season and Mustafi has arguably been the main culprit.

The German's decision making has been absolutely shocking, and right now Arsenal can't really afford to keep passengers in their squad.

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