BBC pundit thinks 3 Arsenal players started yesterday because they’re looking to leave

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Matthew Upson thinks that the likes of Emiliano Martinez, Rob Holding and Ainsley Maitland-Niles were all potentially playing against Liverpool to ‘create a move’ away from the club, as he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

All three players have been linked away from Arsenal this summer – Martinez has been attracting interest from Leeds & Villa [AS], Newcastle seemingly want Holding [Daily Mail], whilst it looks like Maitland-Niles could be heading to Wolves [Evening Stantard].

Martinez and Maitland-Niles have, in particular, been exceptional for Mikel Arteta since he has taken charge, so it would be a surprise to see them depart – the latter was Man of the Match as the FA Cup winners beat the Premier League champions on penalties yesterday.

When all three were named in the starting XI in the Community Shield yesterday, Upson was asked about their futures and why they were starting.

“It’s interesting, isn’t it,” Upson told BBC Radio 5 Live. “Sometimes you kind of think, are they playing to create a move? Or to create interest in them to move the players on if the players wants to go or the club would like to move them on?

“Or, those rumours which I read aswell just aren’t true. The centre-back positions are interesting with Arsenal because they are collecting them at the moment, aren’t they?

“Holding, you would say is a player that they potentially do want to move on but you might have a list of other centre-backs who you rather move on, other than Holding ahead of him, i.e. Mustafi and Sokratis. I think Callum Chambers is still at the club. There is a lot of squad tinkering at Arsenal before the season starts, for me.”

There’s no doubt that there are major changes happening at Arsenal this summer and it’s surgery that has been needed for some while at a previously wounded Emirates.

Arteta has worked his magic during the short time he has been there, but even he still needs assistance from others if he is able to get the club back standing and competing at all levels.

The delayed transfer window doesn’t slam shut until October, so whilst clubs will be keen to bring players in as quick as possible, they know that they still have time to do their business.