Arsenal opinion: Should the Gunners keep Henrikh Mkhitaryan?

English news outlet the Daily Mail has reported that Arsenal are set for a mass exodus in the summer, with the club losing up to 7 players. This includes Shkrodan Mustafi, Mesut Ozil, Carl Jenkinson, Mohamed Elneny and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

However, given their recent performances, there are a few players that the club really shouldn’t look towards selling. Mesut Ozil’s recent shift in attitude and form has caused him to become one of the first names on the team-sheet, but he hasn’t been able to nail down a starting spot.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is another player, much like Ozil, who hasn’t nailed down a first-team spot but has been a willing member of the squad.

So far this season, Mkhitaryan has made 33 appearances in all competitions, with a large chunk of that coming in the Premier League. He has also contributed to ten goals, a tally which could have been much higher if injuries hadn’t affected his season.

The £180k-a-week star fractured his metatarsal just before Christmas and missed most of January due to that.

During that period, Arsenal managed just four wins out of a possible eight games, which caused the club to drop even further down the race for the top-four.

However, they’ve managed wins over Manchester United and Newcastle United. It shows the impact that the 30-year-old has on the team, thanks to his blend of creativity, pace, and work ethic.

This has been a bonus for Arsenal, with Mkhitaryan often playing instead of Mesut Ozil or in tandem with the German.

He may turn 31 next season but given Mkhitaryan’s technical ability, there is a chance that the Armenian can play a deeper role for the club. This would allow him to adjust to his ageing legs, and still make a considerable impact for Arsenal.

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Conclusion

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is a class act and someone whose career faltered at Manchester United, which he is still recovering from.

His performances this season have earned him a place at Arsenal and while he may not be the best player in his position, the Armenian has the ability to do much more for the club.