Joe Cole has warned Arsenal may face a battle keeping hold of their stars who not getting regular first-team opportunities beyond this season.
Mikel Arteta has assembled a formidable squad competing on all four fronts this season, top of the Premier League and Champions League and drawing first blood in their Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea on Wednesday night.
A summer spending spree to the tune of £250million added to the depth at Arteta’s disposal with new faces like Noni Madueke and Piero Hincapie offering excellent squad options, easing the strain on the likes of Bukayo Saka.
Eberechi Eze joined the Gunners for £67million from Crystal Palace but the England international has been an unused substitute in five of Chelsea’s last six games, starting just once since being hooked at half-time against Aston Villa in December.
Academy graduates Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri have also had reduced roles in the team with Ben White limited to just four starts in the Premier League with Jurrien Timber taking place in his side.
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Chelsea meanwhile spent their summer recruiting more young talent with Joao Pedro their oldest addition at the age of 2023.
Former Blues star Joe Cole is eager for his old side to bring in some more established names – even suggesting they should have made an ambitious move to sign Virgil van Dijk before he signed a new contract with Liverpool last year.
Cole is also looking at any ‘seasoned winners’ in the Paris Saint-Germain squad as potential additions before tellingly noting members of the Arsenal squad ‘will be available’ at the end of the season.
‘You need seasoned winners in the side,’ Cole told Paddy Power.
‘I’d be looking at the PSG squad, which I think is bloated. Players who understand winning and know how and what it means to win.
‘I don’t think Arsenal are going to be able to keep up with all their players, certain players there will be available at the end of the season.’
Everton have been linked with an ambitious move for White in the January transfer window while Bournemouth are admirers of Nwaneri.
