3 players Arsenal need to get rid of to challenge for the Premier League title - statistics and videos

Arsenal now look certain to secure a spot in the top four this season, but with plans regarding a Premier League title challenge next season to exploit Manchester United's loss of Sir Alex Ferguson, we look at three players that Arsene Wenger desperately needs rid of to stand a chance.

1) Andrey Arsahvin

The Russian has had a hard time in north London lately. His lacklustre performances have made him a bit of a joke and he has hardly hard a sniff at first team action the entire season. In his seven substitute appearances this campaign, Arshavin has created five chances, accumulated a pass success of 71%, won 38% of his duels, and picked up a yellow card.

Now at 31 years of age and his contract up in the summer, Arshavin needs to leave for the good of his own career.

2) Andre Santos

I bet some of you Gunners forgot that you had this monstrosity on your books, didn't you? Santos was so woeful in his eight appearances earlier in the season that he was often the subject of abuse from the Emirates faithful and was then sent on loan to Gremio for the rest of the season.

The Brazilian full-back has two years left on his Arsenal contract but it is highly unlikely that he will see that out. In the Premier League this season, Santos created five chances, boasts a pass success of 89%, has a shot accuracy of 33% and swapped shirts with Robin van Persie in front of tens-of-thousands of Arsenal fans. Good going.

3) Gervinho

You don't often hear about the performances of Gervinho, as Arsenal fans prefer to mock the size of his head and write him off as a player completely, which may seem a little unfair - until you see him play. He has scored five goals this season to be fair to the striker, but he could've had a lot more if he wasn't so lethargic in front of goal.

In his 18 league appearances, Gervinho has created 15 chances, recorded a pass accuracy of 85%, won 42% of his attempted duels and picked up a yellow card.

The time has come for the African forward to seek pastures new, preferably somewhere he won't be mocked for his appearance. 

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