Arsenal are set for a busy summer as several brutal decisions await Mikel Arteta
This summer gives Arsenal the chance to not only reflect on a hugely successful campaign but to also make decisive changes as they look ahead to next season.
Mikel Arteta’s men are just five games away from potentially winning a historic league and European cup double. The Gunners lead the Premier League table by six points over Manchester City, who have two games in hand, with just three games left to play themselves.
They are also within touching distance of their first Champions League final appearance since 2006 ahead of Tuesday night’s second-leg showdown with Atletico Madrid, having secured a 1-1 draw in Spain in the first leg.
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But for all of Arsenal’s brilliance on the pitch this season, there have been clear frailties and areas which can be improved. football.london takes a look at who the Gunners should keep or sell from their current squad as they look to push on next season.
In goal
David Raya – Keep. Raya has cemented his place as not just one of the Premier League but Europe’s most reliable goalkeepers this season. The Spaniard is often flawless with the ball at his feet and makes huge saves whenever he is called upon. Raya is set to pick up a third successive Premier League Golden Glove.
Kepa Arrizabalaga – Keep. Kepa’s appearances since joining Arsenal last summer have been limited to domestic cup competitions. He was largely reliable in goal in those outings, though his howler in the Carabao Cup final undeniably sticks out as a low point. Still, should the Spaniard be happy to remain a back-up option to his compatriot, Arsenal should keep the former Chelsea man, given how rare experienced and reliable goalkeepers are these days.
Tommy Setford – Keep. The 20-year-old Dutchman’s only appearance this season came in the FA Cup against Wigan in February, where he came on for Kepa. Given his age and potential, Arteta should keep the youngster and see how he develops while learning directly from two Premier League veterans.
In defence
Jurrien Timber – Keep. Timber’s recent injury struggles shouldn’t be a distraction from how good he has been earlier this season, particularly before Christmas, where he was often referred to as one of the league’s top full-backs. Frighteningly, he is still just 24 with room to improve. The only danger is Arteta overplaying the Netherlands international, which leads perfectly to the next player…
Ben White – Sell. White has been a fantastic servant since joining for £50million in 2021. He has fully justified that controversial price-tag, but it is now abundantly clear the England international’s best days are behind him thanks to a series of injuries. The 28-year-old, once one of Arteta’s most trusted players, has looked leggy since his return from injury and Arteta should scour the market for an alternative who can share minutes with Timber without the quality dropping.
Cristhian Mosquera – Keep. It is remarkable how quickly the 21-year-old centre-back has settled into English football. Having recently been capped by Spain, he represents one of Arsenal’s most shrewd acquisitions in some time, arriving for a mere £13m last summer. For now, he provides excellent depth at centre-back and right-back. Whether he is happy with his role as back-up in the next few years remains to be seen, though he could fetch a large sum based on his current trajectory.
William Saliba – Keep. Saliba has been arguably the best central defender in the world for three years now, meaning he is an irreplaceable member of the current Arsenal team. The Frenchman, often compared to a Rolls Royce thanks to his effortless defending and class on the ball, recently signed a contract until 2030, meaning he is expected to remain in north London for the foreseeable future.
Gabriel Magalhaes – Keep. Gabriel began this season as arguably Arsenal’s best player, playing a crucial role in the team that went several games without conceding even a shot on target, while scoring slam-dunk-like headers from corners at the opposite end. Aged 28, he still has several years left at the top. And while his form has levelled out since January, the Brazilian remains one of the first names on the team sheet.
Marli Salmon – Keep. The 16-year-old wonderkid has featured on a handful of occasions this term. While his costly mistake against Mansfield Town showed he is still raw, he is seen as the best defender produced by the academy since Ashley Cole, meaning he is expected to be handed more playing time next season.
Riccardo Calafiori – Keep. Calafiori, when he is available, is one of the best players in the world in his position. That was clear again at the weekend against Fulham, where the Italian could have easily scored two goals despite playing at left-back. The only question mark around Calafiori is his long history of injuries, but his talent means he is important for Arsenal to move on, for now.
Piero Hincapie – Buy. For a player whose arrival many Arsenal fans were ambivalent about at the start of the season, the Bayer Leverkusen loanee has enjoyed a standout season in north London. The Ecuadorian has endeared himself to Arteta and supporters alike due to his no-nonsense defending and work ethic. The 24-year-old was signed on loan with an option to buy for around £45m, and Arsenal are fully expected to trigger the five year clause to make him a permanent signing this summer.
In midfield
Declan Rice – Keep. Arguably the Premier League’s best player season. The chant, “Declan Rice, we got him half price”, still rings true despite him being the Gunners’ record signing. Rice, 27, has been imperious all season, whether he has been deployed as an ‘eight’ or as a ‘six’, snuffing out attacks at will and fully embracing his role as a leader in the dressing room.
Martin Zubimendi – Keep. The Spaniard was mis-profiled by fans and perhaps even Arteta when he was signed last summer. Many expected him to be Arsenal’s answer to Rodri, while N’Golo Kante is perhaps a better comparison. While that has been a cause for frustration at times, Zubimendi has played every league game this season and justified why Liverpool and Real Madrid were desperate to sign him.
Christian Norgaard – Sell. The Norgaard signing is perhaps one of the most baffling Arsenal transfers in recent times. On paper, the former Brentford man’s Premier League experience made him a shrewd addition. Yet, Arteta hasn’t started him in a single league fixture, showing a clear mistrust in his abilities. Arsenal should therefore look to cash in on the Danish veteran this summer to raise funds for a more suitable central midfielder.
Myles Lewis-Skelly – Keep. The England international has endured a difficult season, largely watching on from the substitutes’ bench after a breakout campaign last term. He was rewarded for his patience on Saturday, playing his first Premier League game in his favoured central midfield position and delivering a masterclass. The 19-year-old is one of the greatest teenage talents in his position, something Arteta seems to have finally realised late in the season. Despite the temptation to sell him this summer, his ceiling places him firmly in the ‘must-keep bracket’.
Mikel Merino – Keep. Merino’s lengthy absence due to a freak foot injury has negatively impacted Arsenal’s season. The Spaniard, when fit, others quality depth in several different positions and an unlikely goal threat.
Ethan Nwaneri – Sell. While there is no doubting Nwaneri’s talent, there is clearly something preventing the 19-year-old from pushing on and becoming a starter. That is evident from both Arteta and his current Marseille manager’s team selections this season. Nwaneri’s miserable spell in France means they are unlikely to look to sign him permanently. But, given Arteta’s reluctance to use him even before his loan spell, Arsenal should cash in on the Hale End graduate and invest the money elsewhere.
Eberechi Eze – Keep. Eze has quietly enjoyed a brilliant campaign in his first season back at Arsenal since he was in the academy. His dream return got off to a slow start but he has come into his own as the season has progressed, scoring important goals and becoming one of the few players at Arteta’s disposal who is capable of creating a moment of magic out of nothing.
Martin Odegaard – Sell. The Arsenal project has moved past the captain. Odegaard, for several seasons now, has looked a shadow of his former self. While still crucial in the press and useful when setting tempo, his creativity and finishing leaves a lot to be desired. His performances no longer justify his contract or lofty standing at the club. For that reason, the Norwegian should either be reduced to a bench option or sold for a tidy sum of money.
Max Dowman – Keep. Selling the best young talent in England would be a grave error on Arsenal’s part. Thankfully, that doesn’t seem to be on the agenda anytime soon. The 16-year-old has shown exactly why he is so highly-rated in his various cameos this season and will be a key player for the Gunners in the near future.
In attack
Bukayo Saka – Keep. Saka will know that this season has been a disappointing one by his own lofty standards. Yet, his impact against Fulham, where he scored and assisted, showed he still possesses a deadliness in the final third that no-one else in the squad can offer. The England star, still just 24, is expected to be Arsenal’s talisman for at least the next five years.
Noni Madueke – Keep. At times scintillating and other times frustrating, Madueke has divided opinion since his controversial move from Chelsea. The 24-year-old England star has perhaps started more games than anyone would have expected this season due to Saka’s injury problems, but he offers depth and an ability to change the game from the bench – something Arsenal had lacked for several years.
Kai Havertz – Keep. Frustrating injury problems aside, Havertz has shown he is still a key cog in the Arsenal attack whenever he has played this season. The German possesses outstanding all-round play, even if his finishing can sometimes let him down.
Viktor Gyokeres – Keep. Gyokeres is perhaps the biggest enigma in the entire Arsenal squad. The Swede is clearly a level below his team-mates in terms of his technical ability, yet he has 21 goals to his name, having largely delivered on what he was signed to do. The positive for Arteta will be that Gyokeres has improved as the campaign has gone on, suggesting he could be even more successful next season.
Gabriel Jesus – Sell. Jesus should be the first player moved on this summer given his injury history. The Brazilian is no longer able to inject the same spark in the final third which he brought when he first arrived in N5.
Gabriel Martinelli – Keep. Martinelli’s trajectory at Arsenal has been hugely disappointing. The Brazilian has regressed since three seasons ago, despite his stats in the Champions League this term suggesting otherwise. Arsenal should entertain suitable bids for the Brazilian this summer. But, any offer received is likely to be lower than what it costs to sign someone of similar quality in the transfer market, meaning the better option may be to keep Martinelli for now.
Leandro Trossard – Sell. Trossard, like Martinelli, has been underwhelming for much of the season. The Belgian still has moments of quality in him, as shown at the weekend. But the one thing Martinelli has over him is pace. Given Trossard is 31 years of age, this summer is the perfect time to part ways with a player who has given his all for the Gunners and sign a world class left winger instead.
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