It’s a delicate situation for The Gunners – do they rock the boat with a big mid-season arrival?
Or do Arsenal trust their current playing staff to achieve their lofty ambitions this season and reassess in the summer?
It’s not an easy call, but Kevin Campbell has certainly made up his mind.
Speaking on talkSPORT with Dean Saunders this morning, Campbell was convinced that Arteta needed to free up some funds for his Arsenal squad in January.
And that involved selling the beloved Emile Smith Rowe – a player who could incidentally start for Arsenal tonight.
Initially, Saunders said: “Smith Rowe isn’t getting a sniff is he? They could use that as a vehicle to get under the financial fair play situation.”
Campbell replied: “There are some tradeable pieces. You don’t want to see the Smith Rowes leave the club, a young player coming through the ranks, but if you are going for a title you have to be ruthless.
“If you can move and shake a couple of players and then create an opportunity to get someone like [Ivan] Toney that’s what you have got to do.”
Kevin Campbell thinks Mikel Arteta should sell Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe in January
Of course, the sale of Smith Rowe may not even be enough to reach a deal for Ivan Toney in January.
A £60m asking price for Smith Rowe has previously been mentioned, however the Brentford striker could cost a lot more.
And with a defensive addition perhaps seen as the priority for Arsenal next month, a deal for a striker may have to wait.
As much as it’s hard to stomach for Arsenal fans, Campbell’s idea that Arteta could free up funds with Smith Rowe’s sale is probably spot on.
The same situation applies to Aaron Ramsdale, fans will never enjoy seeing their favourites leave – but what’s the point in keeping them on the bench?
That being said, Arsenal fans will certainly not want to lose one player who is being monitored by Saudi Pro League clubs ahead of January.
Yes, there are players that Arsenal can afford to lose, but Gabriel Magalhaes is certainly not one of them.
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