Arsenal took massive January gamble as focus turns to two summer targets identified

Mikel Arteta has ended up letting so many players go, Arsenal might struggle to field a five-a-side team.

It was brutal, frustrating and bizarre all at the same time - and represents one hell of a gamble as Arsenal chase down a European place.

Incredibly, Arsenal shipped out 12 players in January - mostly youngsters - but the most eye-catching departure was obviously Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

That comes on the back of a bitter fall-out with Arsenal boss Arteta but also after a depressingly dry January when they managed just one goal in five games and crashed out of the FA Cup and lost the Carabao Cup semi final with Liverpool.

Now they only have the Premier League to concentrate on and maybe they have an edge over the likes of Tottenham, Manchester United and West Ham because they will have fewer games in the chase for fourth place.

The thinking around the club is that they could afford to let squad players like Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Pablo Mari and Calum Chambers go because they have only got one game a week and have still got cover in the squad.

Furthermore, it does streamline a squad which for far too long has been bloated and been carrying some overpaid deadwood like Sead Kolasinac and is a chance to reset in the summer.

That does put huge pressure on the next transfer window but there will be serious cash available - and more scope in the wage bill and to stay within Financial Fair Play rules which were another consideration - to sign a big striker and midfielder.

They are the two priorities and after Aubameyang’s departure, plus Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah out of contract at the end of the season, they might actually need more than just one forward.

In fairness, Arsenal did go big for Dusan