Exit Interviews is a series where Scott and Adam share their opinions on next steps for select Arsenal players. The series will run through early June.
Sorry, everyone: Not every player gets (or deserves) a full article! Arsenal will have a couple of guys returning from loans this month, and there are a couple of squad players we haven’t addressed. What to do with each? Lightning round!
Here we go.
Cedric Soares
Adam: Cedric didn’t catch on at Fulham and reportedly wants to stay and fight. Translation: Pay me to leave. Terminate his contract.
Scott: Still one of the most puzzling moves I have seen Arsenal make in a good while, and my opinion on the player really hasn’t changed. Fair enough to him, he wants to get all that’s owed to him on what will be his last major deal. Just terminate.
Nicolas Pépé
Adam: Unfortunately for Arsenal, Pépé has done little to show he’s a standout even in midtable Ligue 1. Arsenal are likely going to pay him to go away.
Scott: His stats in France can best be described as fine and that’s a problem given that he is paid to be a superstar and has that kind of transfer price stamp.
In my dream scenario, he looks to see about trying to set himself up for the next 3-4 years and is willing to forgo his last year on the original deal and accepts a new market wage, unfortunately, I don’t see that happening. Probably at best Arsenal will have to heavily subsidize another loan before he becomes a free agent next summer.
Rob Holding
Adam: Thanks for everything, but it’s time to go. An upgrade is coming. Sell for £4.5m.
Scott: He had some great memories and movements. We will always remember the FA Cup against Chelsea. Just isn’t at the level and fit with the current team. Sell for a nominal fee.
Takehiro Tomiyasu
Adam: He’s been so useful when healthy, problem being how rarely that’s been. I’d keep him and give him plenty of minutes, prioritizing a similarly versatile replacement next summer if fitness is an issue once again.
Scott: I really want to plug him as the rotation option on the left back for the depth chart, with further cover along the rest of the backline. I am just not sure that’s going to happen anytime soon. The team can’t realistically do anything with him but hope he doesn’t hurt himself and then can re-asses next summer.
Auston Trusty
Adam: This transfer always felt like a favor to another club in the KSE family. Trusty was good at Birmingham but his place is taken in the squad. Sell for £3m.
Scott: I wouldn’t be surprised if he actually sticks around for the pre-season to help with some numbers before things really cut down as the season approaches. I don’t think he has a spot at Arsenal but did seem to surprise and look like a good fit in the Championship.
Sell for £3-8m.
Marquinhos
Adam: You win some, you lose some. Marquinhos looked bright in his first game in the Europa League but struggled on loan to Norwich. As a £3m transfer it’s not going to affect Arsenal either way, really. Find him another English loan.
Scott: First season in a new country as a young player, I think you have to expect a period of adaption. I think he’s with the main squad for most of pre-season but they look for a loan, and the next loan move is probably the make or break, and if it doesn’t work out it really is more of a rounding error.