New Year has just ticked over and Arsenal are fifth in the Premier League title race. Happy, Arsenal fans? I thought not.

The Gunners have perhaps looked the best they have in years this season, putting in some terrific performances, especially at the start of the season, however, they still sit outside of the Champions League spots and a good eight points behind league leaders and London rivals Chelsea.

It appears it may be another season of aiming for the top four while hoping for success in one of the domestic trophies for Arsene Wenger's men unless they are able to kick on and rediscover the dazzling form they displayed early on in the season.

One thing that is for sure, however, is that if the Gunners are really to mount a title challenge come May time, they absolutely need to hang on to their key men. Much has been talked about regarding the possible departures of star turns Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, but letting go of them is 100% not an option if Arsenal really want to compete with England and Europe's best.

While hanging on to that magic pair may be a must, keeping this lot is not so. Here are FOUR players the club should let go of this winter...

Aaron Ramsey

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Aaron Ramsey, besides being injured less often and having had at least one outstanding season for Arsenal, is, unfortunately, the Welsh Jack Wilshere - a player that promised so much at a young age, but has never quite managed to live up to the expectation that preceded him.

He does have an impressive six assists to his name this season, however, he only has two goals, and has frankly been outclassed by Arsene Wenger's other options in the middle of the park, namely Granit Xhaka, Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla. A number of big clubs would still - mistakenly, some may argue - be willing to pay a big fee for the playmaker, so could it be time to cash in?

Per Mertesacker

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Arsenal's Per Mertesacker comes off injured
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Arsenal finally seem to have found a centre-half pairing that works in the form of Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny. On the premise that neither are injured, the German and the Frenchman have formed a partnership that will rarely be broken up.

As a back-up to the first choice starters, Arsene Wenger has Brazilian Gabriel Paulista and youngster Rob Holding as his stand-in men, both of whom are capable of doing a job, especially the latter who has impressed when given the opportunity. That leaves little space for Per Mertesacker, who despite his qualities, lacks the pace and physical prowess to succeed in the Premier League.

 

Mathieu Debuchy

The Frenchman was always an odd signing for Arsenal. Snapped up from Newcastle in the summer of 2014, Debuchy has only made three Premier League appearances the last 18 months. Yes, he did spend six months of that time on loan at Ligue 1 side Bordeaux, but still.

Two-and-a-half years in total and only 23 appearances, many of them from the substitutes' bench, does not exactly look good for the former Lille man. Arsene Wenger may hang on to him in due to the chance of injury to Hector Bellerin and Carl Jenkinson, but if you ask me, it's better to say goodbye now before his market value further deteriorates - he is now 31.