Arsenal could be set for something of a summer clear-out as Mikel Arteta continues to try to build a squad capable of challenging for major honours.
The Gunners have had a largely disappointing season and currently sit in ninth place in the table, although they still have a chance of winning silverware through the Europa League.
Ultimately their main goal is to once again become a team who qualify for the Champions League regularly and are at least in the running for top spot in the Premier League.
In order to do this they will have to bring in at least one or two quality additions this summer – meaning a number of players could be moved on to make room.
The likes of Hector Bellerin and Alexandre Lacazette could well make way if the right offer comes on.
But here are six other members of the squad who the Gunners are likely to actively attempt to sell in the next few months…
Matteo Guendouzi
(Image: Getty Images)
Barring the most unlikely of reconciliations with Arteta, it looks almost certain that Guendouzi will leave Arsenal permanently this summer.
The 21-year-old French midfielder was completely frozen out by the Spaniard following the infamous game against Brighton last season, and has spent this campaign on loan at Hertha Berlin.
There he has become an important part of the first-team, making 20 Bundesliga appearances, and it would not be a surprise to see Hertha attempt to keep him in Germany.
But even if that is not the case, Guendouzi will no doubt be offered to various other teams, and given his undoubted talent he should have no shortage of suitors as he looks to put his Arsenal nightmare behind him.
Lucas Torreira
Torreira is another midfielder who clearly wasn’t fancied by Arteta, and he was shipped off to Atletico Madrid on loan.
Following the recent tragic death of his mother, the 25-year-old Uruguayan publicly said he wants to return to South America to play for Boca Juniors.
He told ESPN Argentina: “It’s not a violent emotion, a crazy decision because of my mother. I have always said that I want to play for Boca. I’m dying to play for Boca and I will always say it.
“The night my mother died, one of the first to hear the news was my agent. I don’t want to play in Europe anymore, I want to play for Boca.”
It looks like Arsenal will allow him to make the move this summer.
Mohamed Elneny
(Image: 2021 The Arsenal Football Club Plc)
Elneny has had something of a renaissance in the Arsenal team recently, and has featured far more often than usual.
This has led to the Egyptian’s agent claiming he could yet sign a new contract and stay at the club, with his current deal set to expire next summer.
However, Arsenal are likely to have other ideas, and there is still an overriding belief that the 28-year-old is not quite good enough to be a regular in Arteta’s side.
He has been linked with the likes of Galatasaray and Besiktas, and if the Gunners receive an offer they deem acceptable don’t be surprised to see Elneny depart.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Maitland-Niles was at one stage thought of as the next big thing at Arsenal.
The versatile 23-year-old made 32 appearances in all competitions last season, and looked to have a bright future at the Emirates.
For whatever reason Arteta seems to have taken against him, however, and he was sent to West Brom on loan in February.
Recent reports suggest the player himself is plotting an exit this summer in order to further his career, and there should be a number of Premier League teams interested in his services.
Sead Kolasinac
Kolasinac is another who looks to be deemed surplus to requirements at the Emirates.
After playing an important part in the team for three seasons, he fell down the pecking order in the current campaign, and has made a return to his previous club Schalke until June.
With left-back Kieran Tierney arguably one of Arsenal’s most important players at the moment, it looks highly unlikely Kolasinac will ever be able to regain his regular place in the side.
Nevertheless, he will be remembered fondly by Gunners supporters after his years of service, and should still be able to do the business for another high-profile team.
Konstantinos Mavropanos
Things just haven’t worked out for Greek defender Mavropanos.
Over the course of three years he has managed just eight appearances in all competitions for the Gunners, with injuries completely disrupting his time at the club.
Loans at Nurnberg and Stuttgart have followed, and it looks certain he will never pull on an Arsenal shirt again.
It will be an underwhelming end to a spell in which a lot was expected of Mavropanos, but unfortunately not much delivered.
