Time for goodbye? Arsenal would be better off parting ways with their faltering veteran star in the summer

According to a report in the Mirror, La Liga giants Barcelona are looking to land Arsenal left-back Nacho Monreal, as a backup for Jordi Alba. The 33-year-old Spaniard is out of contract at the end of next season, after the Gunners triggered his one-year extension. However, the Catalans continue to keep a close eye on the player.

As a result of that interest, the Premier League side are getting linked with a move for Ajax left-back Nicolas Tagliafico. (h/t Mirror). They also have concerns over whether Sead Kolasinac would be able to play a long-term role in a back four (h/t Mirror).

While all those permutations take place, here’s why Arsenal should offload Monreal in the summer window:

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Gunners need more quality and fresh legs

Nacho Monreal signed for Arsenal from Malaga in the January window of 2013 for a fee around £8.5m. The Spaniard was a shrewd addition to the squad as he slowly took over the first-choice left-back spot and excelled in it.

In the latter stages of the Arsene Wenger reign, the 33-year-old moved towards playing a wide centre-back role and did reasonably well.

But now with Monreal’s contract about to end next summer and him reaching the twilight of his career, it makes sense from the club’s viewpoint that they offload the player.

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Furthermore, with the way Arsenal play under Unai Emery, they need a dynamic left-back who is young and can make runs up and down the field without any fuss. And Monreal is not in his age to do that.

Conclusion

All that being said, the conclusion is pretty simple that the Gunners have to freshen things up at the back, and the left-back is an important position where change is required. Hence, it is time that they offload Monreal in the summer.