Darren Bent has told talkSPORT that Arsenal have ‘only got themselves to blame’ if they do not qualify for the Champions League after weakening Mikel Arteta’s ranks during January.
The Gunners set out to strengthen in the mid-season market with a new striker and central midfielder courted. But technical director Edu could not secure a single deal in the end and Arsenal ended the window in a worse situation following a spate of exits for fringe players.
Arteta allowed loan deals for Ainsley Maitland-Niles to join Roma, Folarin Balogun to move to Middlesbrough and sent Pablo Mari to Udinese. Arsenal also released Sead Kolasinac to join Marseille and let Calum Chambers join Aston Villa for free with his contract up in June.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang even landed a £7m payday from Arsenal to tear up his £350k-a-week contract, per The Times. The striker – who scored four goals in 14 Premier League matches this season – has since struck eight in nine La Liga appearances with Barcelona.
Only Aubameyang had played regularly under Arteta this term, among those Arsenal let go in January. Balogun only played 70 minutes in the Premier League, Kolasinac 90, Chambers 171, Mari 180 and Maitland-Niles played 263 – more than Eddie Nketiah (166) who stayed.
Arsenal have ‘only got themselves to blame’ after January exits, Bent says
Mohamed Elneny is another to feature infrequently (170) in the top-flight so far this term for the north Londoners. He may now earn greater opportunities under Arteta, as Arsenal may be without Thomas Partey (thigh) and Kieran Tierney (knee) for the rest of the season.
Partey and Tierney’s presence has been a sore miss for the Gunners in defeats to Crystal Palace and Brighton. Arsenal now sit fifth in the Premier League, three points off the top-four and with a worse goal difference to Tottenham, who Bent claims actually improved.
“Not over, but they’ve not helped themselves,” Bent said. “But then you look at the likes of them, Arsenal, West Ham, Wolves, Manchester United, the only team to strengthen in January, and although it was only two signings, was Tottenham.
“Look at the impact the two signings have made – [Dejan] Kulusevski and [Rodrigo] Bentancur have both been brilliant. But when you look at who Arsenal let go: Maitland-Niles, Balogun, Kolasinac, Calum Chambers. I mean, just hold on to a couple of them.
“I know these guys might not necessarily play. But when your squad’s as thin as it is, you just need strength in depth. And right now, Arsenal don’t have that. Partey and Tierney, big, big misses. So, I guess, Arsenal have only got themselves to blame.”
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