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Perry Groves: 'Arsenal should sell at least nine players'

Perry Groves: 'Arsenal should sell at least nine players'
© Reuters
Former Arsenal player Perry Groves suggests that Gunners boss Mikel Arteta should be looking to sell at least nine players this summer.

Former Arsenal player Perry Groves has claimed that the Gunners should be looking to sell at least nine players this summer following their shock Europa League last-32 exit to Olympiacos.

Mikel Arteta's side crashed out on away goals as Youssef El Arabi's extra-time winner sent the 44-time Greek champions through at the expense of last year's runners up.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Groves, who made 155 appearances for Arsenal, said: "I was working at the game last night and the whole thing just smelled of complete complacency.

"There was lethargy on and off the ball, and when you're in that frame of mind it's very difficult to get yourself out of it, and you need some big personalities and leaders on the pitch to get the team by the scruff of the neck.

"Longer term, Arteta is probably looking at his squad thinking, 'I've got a bigger job than I thought I had'. He has a group of players, not all the players, that are suffering from a lack of desire and hunger. It's impossible as a manager to put that hunger and desire in if it isn't there.

"I was thinking maybe five or six players need to go, but now I think you're looking at up to nine players."

"At the moment, I think David Luiz, Shkodran Mustafi, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Dani Ceballos – who will leave anyway as he's on loan – Mesut Ozil, Granit Xhaka, Calum Chambers, Mohamed Elneny and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and those last two are also already out on loan anyway."

Arsenal will next travel to Fratton Park for their FA cup fifth-round tie with Portsmouth on Monday.

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