How Arsenal's scouting system is becoming the plight, compounding all their woes

Over the years, Arsenal have look lost. They are only one of the 'big six' in the Premier League on papers, but in reality, they have degraded and have been overtaken by other teams like Leicester City and other up coming teams.

Mikel Arteta and Arsenal's technical director, Edu Gasper. Photo Credits: Twitter/ Mirror Football

The Gunners finished eighth in the league last season and will miss out of any European competition next season for the first time in 25 years. And in the last few years they've been playing in the Europa League, when before, they were regular in the UEFA Champions League.

The Gunners will now be looking for a fresh start and rebuild into a stronger team, as they prepare to fight their way back to Europe next season.

However, Mikel Arteta and the Arsenal could be in line for just more disasters to come as the club's scouting system is totally outdated, and it could only spell more troubles for them.

Starting with the fact that only the want away Granit Xhaka, and Kieran Tierney are the only European players in the Arsenal team, who are starter with their national teams. Many of the others are not even considered good enough to represent their countries on the international stage.

Teenager, Bukayo Saka, Bernd Leno and the former two are the only Arsenal players in the ongoing European Championship, while Bernd Leno did not even get a game, and Bukayo Saka was a surprise pick by England manager, Gareth Southgate.

Brazilian players, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes are not considered good enough for the senior national team and both play for the Under 23s, while only African players, Thomas Partey, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe plays regular international games.

In search for upgrade in the transfer for players they consider not good enough, they are yet, still only about to scout players who are not good enough on the international level.

Albert Sambi Lokonga, Ben White and Nuno Tavares are currently being liked with moves to the Emirates as Arsenal look to invest and become challenger again. Are these players really the answer, in a league where you have the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and others, who parade qualities and are persistent in adding qualities ?

When Unai Emery was appointed, Arsenal signed Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi but none of the two was able to solve their midfield problems and are already put up for sale. Same thing with William Saliba, who was brought it but has never played a game for them.

William Saliba is yet to make an official debut for Arsenal. Photo Credits: Twitter/ Mirror Football

This transfer decisions contribute a lot to the difficulty of the club, that persists over the years. The wrong decisions when the simple right ones are needed to be made. The scouting system has been failing the club long ago.

Even with the way things turned out, Granit Xhaka still proved the best central midfielder for the club last season, and now that he look set to leave, Arsenal are looking to replace an international captain, who has been simply sensational in the ongoing European Championship, by a 21 year old, who is yet to make a senior debut at international level.

Albert Sambi Lokonga plays in the Belgium league, one not considered top five in Europe, this transfer is no different from the ones the Gunners have done in the past, and nothing good comes out from it. Do they ever learn ?

Manchester City want Jack Grealish and Harry Kane, Manchester United are close to announcing Jadon Sancho, Chelsea being linked with Erlin Haaland and Liverpool also chasing world beaters but Arsenal, having lost out to Aston Villa in their pursuit of Emiliano Buendia are now in for players who should never have been on their wishlist.

From being linked with Yves Bissouma, to Manuel Locatelli, to Ruben Neves and it now looks likely that Arsenal will sign Lokonga for the same position instead.

While Aston Villa continue to trouble them with bids for Emile Smith Rowe, the fees at wish the club sell its players is also mouthwatering. In the current transfer market, selling Granit Xhaka for anything less than £35m should be a crime. But only at Arsenal will you see such happen, and repeatedly.

While on loan last season, Joseph Willock impressed for Newcastle United and the stock of the English midfielder will surely have risen, but wait till Arsenal accepts a bid for him, and know how low they rate their own players.

While they look to move several players away this summer, a bad transfer policy will leave them with nothing but regrets, as they will probably replace departed players with less players in abilities.

This is a problem that needs to be handled and taken care of in time, if the club ever want to return to its past glory days.

Afolabi Kehinde Hassan