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Arsenal manager Unai Emery faces a huge task this summer. With what is likely to be a very limited transfer budget, he must transform the Gunners from ‘big six’ also rans into a side that can secure Champions League qualification and close the gap on the title-chasers.

There are plenty of improvements needed at the Emirates Stadium. Replacements will be required of the likes of Aaron Ramsey, who is set to join Juventus, and veteran goalkeeper Petr Cech, who has announced his retirement.

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On top of that, there’s also the deadwood that needs shifting. The north London club may not be able to rid themselves of all of their underperforming stars in a single transfer window, but one player who they absolutely have to find an upgrade for is Shkodran Mustafi.

Why he has to go

The German centre-back has failed to live up to his price tag since his £35 million arrival in the summer of 2016. Not only has he failed to justify his extortionate fee, he’s regularly been an outright liability at the back for the Gunners. 

Prone to careless errors, lapses in concentration, and rash challenges, the Arsenal defence is not a more solid unit with him in it. However, the 26-year-old remains a regular starter. This is partly due to his relatively young age. With the likes of Nacho Monreal, Laurent Koscielny and Sokratis ageing, Mustafi is one of the few Arsenal defenders physically capable of playing week in, week out.

The long-term injury sustained by Rob Holding this season depleted Emery’s alternative options even further. Arsenal have already been stuck with the 20-cap Germany international longer than they’d like to have been, but that must change this summer. 

The defender must be sold and replaced with a young, reliable centre-back capable of taking the club forward. Without getting such a deal done, Emery’s task of restoring the Gunners to the top will be nigh on impossible to achieve.