Arsenal: 5 Players Arsene Wenger Should Sell in January

It has been another season of incredible frustration at the Emirates and with a humiliating defeat at Swansea, it is time for Arsene Wenger to ship out the dead-wood before it's too late.

With the continuing lack of transfer funds, it looks like the only way Arsenal will be able to bring in some new players before the January window closes.

Too many big name signings have been underperforming for too long and if something isn't done soon, this great club is in severe danger of finishing outside the top four.

Here are five guys that have to go... 

Manuel Almunia

Simply not good enough to be an Arsenal player. Almunia has been given countless opportunities to establish himself as a first team regular but has consistently disappointed since replacing Jens Lehmann.

Not only has the Spaniard lost his place, he has now been relegated to third choice behind Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski.

With a brief loan spell to West Ham United now over and Fabianski ready to return from injury, it makes perfect sense to sell the 34-year-old and free up some funds.

Potential Value: 1.5 million

Johan Djourou

Almost always in the side because of injuries to others, Djourou is becoming an increasingly forlorn figure at the Emirates.

There have been glimpses of the defender's talent but it has been all too brief for a team like Arsenal.

He had his best run in the team last season because of an injury to Thomas Vermaelen but has struggled to make an impact this year.

The Swiss international has only made six starts since August and was present in the teams that shipped eight goals at Manchester United, four at Blackburn and three at Swansea this weekend. He was also sent off in the 2-1 loss at Fulham at the start of the month.

Sometimes you have to admit the player is not going to make the grade and at only 24, Djourou would represent good sell-on value.

Potential Value: 3 million 

Tomas Rosicky

Made only five starts this season and only completed 90 minutes twice; Rosicky has become almost a shadow in North London.

Flashes of brilliance have been few and far between from the Czech international and Wenger has undoubtedly lost confidence in the seven million pound man.

Expected to step up to the plate after the loss of Fabergas, the 31-year-old has continued to be a fringe player and must surely be considering his own future at the club, although that could well be being done for him.

Once regarded as one of the most exciting playmakers in world football before a bad hamstring tendon injury, Rosicky has never recovered and a fresh start maybe needed to revive a stuttering career.

Potential Value: 2.5 million

Andrei Arshavin

This is perhaps the most frustrating selection because Arshavin is without doubt one of the most gifted players in the Premier League but for some reason it's just not happening for him.

You could describe him as the Fernando Torres of Arsenal; bought for a record 15 million from Zenit St Petersburg, the only thing that has been consistent has been his inconsistency.

With his ability to play anywhere across the midfield or just off the striker, Arshavin looked a perfect fit for Arsenal and that was only enhanced when scoring all four goals in a memorable 4-4 draw with Liverpool at Anfield in his debut season.

But that was three years ago and the 30-year-old has failed to live up to his early promise. Incredibly wasteful in front of goal, Wenger could have finally lost patience with the Russian as he continues to be linked with a host of different clubs.

Potential Value: 7 million 

Marouane Chamakh

What a difference a season makes. Brought in from Bordeaux, Chamakh hit the ground running and struck up a good partnership with Robin van Persie, scoring a respectable 11 goals in his first season including eight assists.

However, the majority were scored at the start of the season as confidence and belief seemed to drain from the Moroccan international at an alarming rate.

The arrival of Gervinho pushed the 28-year-old further down the pecking order and with only one Premier League start this season and 135 total minutes on the pitch, something is drastically wrong.

I'm not normally one to write someone off after only two seasons, but Arsene Wenger has now signed Thierry Henry too! It doesn't take a genius to work out that Chamakh's days could be numbered.

Potential Value: 4 million

Total Value: 18 million