Despite going through one of the busiest windows in their history last summer, Arsenal are expected to be highly active again when the transfer window comes around at the end of this season. Edu secured deals for Aaron Ramsdale, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White, Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Martin Odegaard but there is still so much more to do.
football.london understands that the Gunners will be on the lookout for at least one striker depending on what happens with Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah's contract situations, while another midfielder is also thought to be on the agenda as Mikel Arteta seeks to continue his project at the Emirates Stadium.
Away from the incomings though, there is still plenty more to do in the opposite direction. Last summer probably the biggest regret is that Arsenal were not able to secure transfer fees for anyone other than Joe Willock. This time around there is a hope they can correct that.
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Arteta has previously expressed how important he feels it is for players to be invested in his project. It was this approach that saw six players leave the Emirates in the January transfer window. As a result there is going to be a huge emphasis on getting players who are surplus to requirements out of the club as much there will be on bringing players in. Here football.london takes a look at some of the players who have attracted interest from elsewhere and could leave.
Runar Alex Runarsson
Despite joining OH Leuven on transfer deadline last summer and getting plenty of game time in Belgium football.london understands that Runar Alex Runarsson is set to return to Arsenal this summer.
The Iceland 'keeper is no longer part of Mikel Arteta's plans after failing to impress in limited cup appearances upon his arrival from Dijon in the summer of 2020. Edu is expected to look to secure either another loan or a permanent move away from north London for him this summer.
Bernd Leno
football.london understands that Matt Turner will join Arsenal from New England Revolution this summer, and that is set to spell the end of Bernd Leno's career at the Emirates.
The German has been number two in north London since Aaron Ramsdale's arrival, and with the World Cup coming up and just one year left on his contract in the summer, he is expected to secure a permanent exit at the end of this season
Hector Bellerin
After a decade in north London, Hector Bellerin finally secured an exit from Arsenal with a season long loan move to Real Betis last summer. That loan is not thought to have included an option to buy.
A return to Mikel Arteta's squad next season appears unlikely though given the impeccable form of Takehiro Tomiyasu since his arrival from Bologna and Cedric 's impressive form as his back up. Bellerin has one year left on his deal with the Gunners come the summer and Edu will want to secure a permanent fee for him while it's still possible.
Pablo Mari
Despite being Mikel Arteta's first ever signing in January 2020, Pablo Mari was out of the first team this season with Gabriel establishing himself as a starter at left centre-back, and Rob Holding the preferred back up. The Spaniard made just three appearances for Arsenal before January and as a result left to join Udinese on loan for the remainder of the season.
Mari has expressed a desire to stay in Italy next season if possible, but football.london has been informed by sources close to Udinese that nothing has been decided as of yet with regards to a permanent stay. The 28-year-old still seems likely to leave Arsenal this summer as things stand, but that could change depending on the centre back situation at the Emirates.
Dinos Mavropanos
Greek international Dinos Mavropanos has turned several heads during his loan spell at Stuttgart, with former Arsenal head of recruitment Sven Mislintat speaking very highly of him on several occasions.
football.london understands that an agreement has been struck to have the 24-year-old move to the German club on a permanent basis come the summer. Die Schwaben are battling relegation from the Bundesliga, but it is thought that that will not affect the move regardless of what ends up happening.
William Saliba
Possibly one of the most complicated situations at Arsenal right now is surrounding the future of William Saliba. With Pablo Mari's future uncertain it appears there could be a space available in the squad next season, particularly considering that there will be more games if the Gunners qualify for Europe as expected.
Saliba though is a player who has previously stated his desire for game time as he continues to develop at this early stage in his career. football.london understands that the Frenchman is expected to return to north London in the summer for talks over his future, but with Ben White and Gabriel the established centre back partnership at the Emirates there is a possibility he could end up leaving without ever making a competitive appearance for Arsenal.
Rob Holding
Regular game time has been hard to come by for Rob Holding this season. Despite establishing himself as something of a cheat code for locking tight games down to secure important victories for Arsenal in their race for a top four finish he has not started a game in the Premier League since January and could consider looking elsewhere for more minutes.
Holding's professionalism is highly valued by Mikel Arteta, but if William Saliba returns he will then find himself even further down the pecking order. The 26-year-old will have two years left on his contract at the end of this season, and Edu may look to use this summer to secure a fee for him that reflects his value. The Gunners do have an option to trigger a one-year extension on the deal though which means a sale could still be delayed.
Gabriel
football.london understands that Barcelona are interested in signing Gabriel this summer as Xavi seeks to acquire a left footed centre-back to help his rebuild at the Nou Camp.
The Gunners are not expected to entertain any offers for the Brazilian who is an essential part of Mikel Arteta's project in north London. It's not clear whether the 24-year-old's head may be turned by interest from the Catalan giants, but Arsenal will likely dig there heels in to stop an exit, with reports suggesting that they could offer him a new contract this summer.
Kieran Tierney
Kieran Tierney being ruled out for the rest of the season has been a devastating blow for Arsenal's Champions League hopes. This though is not the first time he has missed important chunks of the season due to injury.
Reports have suggested that Real Madrid have shown interest in making a £50 million bid for the 24-year-old this summer, and considering his poor injury record the Gunners could be tempted. However, given that he's been handed the captain's armband when Alexandre Lacazette has been taken off during matches this season, it seems far more likely that he's going to stay.
Nuno Tavares
Tierney's understudy for much of this season has been Nuno Tavares. Despite impressing during a run in the team between October and November though, the 22-year-old appears to have lost Mikel Arteta's trust after being withdrawn before the second half in both of his previous two starts.
During Saturday's Premier League clash with Brighton, despite being the only orthodox left back available in the squad, Granit Xhaka was chosen to start instead. While it's not impossible that things could turn around, it's difficult to see how Tavares can come back from this, and an exit could well be on the cards this summer.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles
After publicly asking to leave to go to another team where he might play just before deadline day in the summer, Ainsley Maitland-Niles finally got his wish by joining Roma on loan for the remainder of the season in January.
Things haven't worked out for the England international though and he has largely been stuck on Jose Mourinho 's bench over the past few months. He is expected to return to North London at the end of this season as a result, but with just one year left on his deal with Arsenal it seems likely that he will leave for good in the summer.
Mohamed Elneny
After talks over an extension broke down last year, Mohamed Elneny's contract is set to run out in the summer.
The Egyptian has started just once in the Premier League this season and although Mikel Arteta stated that all players whose contracts are up will have talks this summer, it is likely that he will end his six and a half year stay with the Gunners.
Matteo Guendouzi
Matteo Guendouzi has not played for Arsenal in nearly two years after falling out with Mikel Arteta just after the beginning of project restart.
After a spending a lukewarm season on loan with Hertha Berlin, the Frenchman's career has really caught fire again during another loan spell with Marseille. L'OM president Pablo Longoria has confirmed that conditions have been met to ensure that the 22-year-old's move will be made permanent when the transfer window opens again this summer.
Lucas Torreira
After experiencing a tough time in his personal life it has been great to see Lucas Torreira playing and smiling again during his loan spell with Fiorentina.
The Uruguayan was awarded La Viola's player of the month last season and is set to secure a permanent move there for a fee that football.london understands to be in the region of £13 million.
Granit Xhaka
After coming close to leaving last summer football.london understands that Granit Xhaka could leave this time around with Roma considering rekindling their interest in him.
The Swiss international signed a contract extension at the Emirates though and revealed in an interview that his current intention is to see that out. Arsenal have been linked to signing another midfielder this summer however, and that could possibly end up changing the situation.
Reiss Nelson
Reiss Nelson was among the most highly rated youngsters to come out of a recent Hale End crop that included Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, but after failing to ever really grasp limited options in the first team at Arsenal he left to join Feyenoord on loan this season.
The 22-year-old had a tricky start to life in Holland but is getting more regular game time at the minute. His loan does not include an option to buy, but having exercised an option to trigger a one year extension on his Gunners contract last summer, Edu will surely want to secure a permanent exit this time around.
Nicolas Pepe
Nicolas Pepe has been one of the victims of the lack of European football at the Emirates this season, and has found game time hard to come by as a result, with no starts in the Premier League since October.
The Ivorian will have just two years left on his contract at the Emirates come the summer, and with this in mind Arsenal may look to secure an exit. For his part Pepe has refused to rule it out, and after failing to ever really establish himself as a starter in north London a move away does seem possible.
Eddie Nketiah
Eddie Nketiah 's contract will be up at the end of the season, and despite Mikel Arteta's very public attempts to get him to stay, it seems the 22-year-old has made up his mind to leave.
He came close to exiting last summer, and given that he is England under-21s record goalscorer you would think that he'll have plenty of options this time around as he seeks to finally secure some regular game time to get his senior career off the ground.
Alexandre Lacazette
Like Nketiah, Alexandre Lacazette's contract will be up at the end of this season. The 30-year-old has worn the captain's armband at the Emirates since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was exiled from the team since December and Mikel Arteta has spoken highly of the job he's done for the team. However, Lacazette's failure to score from open play has seen him receive plenty of criticism.
A potential extension has not been ruled out entirely just yet, however, at this stage of his career the Frenchman may be looking for the security of a longer-term deal. Lyon have expressed interest, and given that Arsenal are being heavily linked to strikers, there's a chance he could be on his way out of the Emirates.
