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Arsenal are going big this summer in what feels like a crucial juncture in their ongoing pursuit of ending their 21-year الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز title drought. The Gunners have been spending freely, strengthening across the board, but attentions must now turn to outgoings.
After a protracted transfer saga, long-term target Viktor Gyokeres is set to become their latest big-money new arrival following the likes of Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke through the door at the Emirates Stadium and taking the north Londoners’ summer outlay to around £200 million ($269m).
Meanwhile, Jorginho, Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Thomas Partey – who has been charged with rape and sexual assault – have all left the club without generating any income. Head coach Mikel Arteta will know there is plenty more blubber to be trimmed and money to be made as he attempts to mould a potentially title-winning squad…
Arsenal are going big this summer in what feels like a crucial juncture in their ongoing pursuit of ending their 21-year Premier League title drought. The Gunners have been spending freely, strengthening across the board, but attentions must now turn to outgoings.
After a protracted transfer saga, long-term target Viktor Gyokeres is set to become their latest big-money new arrival, following the likes of Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke through the door at the Emirates Stadium and taking the north Londoners’ summer outlay to around £200 million ($269m).
Meanwhile, Jorginho, Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Thomas Partey – who has been charged with rape and sexual assault – have all left the club without generating any income. Head coach Mikel Arteta will know there is plenty more blubber to be trimmed and money to be made as he attempts to mould a potentially title-winning squad…
Do Arsenal need to ask themselves a serious question about Havertz?! Gyokeres’ long-awaited, imminent arrival throws the German attacker’s involvement into doubt, after he emerged as Arteta’s main No.9 last season.
Nine goals in 23 appearances before a hamstring injury effectively curtailed his season was not a bad return, but the decision has clearly been made that he is not the prolific striker Arsenal need to carry them forward, while the No.10 role and the wings are occupied. It might be time to cash in…
It’s a great shame, but it’s probably time to face up to the fact that Jesus’ much-heralded move to Arsenal in 2022 has been completely derailed by fitness issues, with the forward currently sidelined by a second serious knee injury since his arrival and those bookending a number of other niggles.
He still faces several months on the treatment table as he continues to recover from a dreaded cruciate ligament tear, but it would be little surprise if the Gunners were weighing up cutting their losses behind the scenes. Finding a buyer is another question, although a loan return to البرازيل could be on the cards.
Strangely, Kiwior’s place in Arteta’s plans has rarely seemed secure since he signed for the north Londoners in January 2023, although he really stepped up in the run-in in 2024-25 amid a raft of defensive injuries. However, that spell only seems to have put him in the shop window.
With Riccardo Calafiori now back in action and Gabriel Magalhaes nearing a return, Arsenal have also completed the signing of highly-rated Spanish centre-back Cristhian Mosquera – all of which pushes Kiwior right down the pecking order. Unsurprisingly, it’s been reported that he wants out.
One player who is pretty much guaranteed to be on his way this summer, forgotten man Lokonga is back at Arsenal having done his reputation no harm with a decent loan spell at Sevilla, albeit disrupted by injuries.
Now 25, the midfielder has surprisingly been included on the pre-season tour to Asia, but with just one year to run on his contract the club will be determined to find him a new, permanent home this summer. The Belgian says he needs “stability”.
A divisive figure among the Arsenal fanbase, there is some uncertainty surrounding Martinelli’s future amid the flurry of transfer activity at the Emirates, with Madueke signed seemingly to play off the left flank that the Brazilian currently occupies.
The 24-year-old has plateaued somewhat across the last two seasons, with his lack of end product becoming a point of contention. His sale would represent significant profit after Arsenal paid just £6m after unearthing him at Ituano in his homeland, and the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) will surely be a consideration.
There seems to be a hesitance to permanently let go of Hale End graduate Nelson, who is back at Arsenal after an injury-curtailed loan spell at Fulham last season, where he had initially impressed before the hamstring problem.
However, while he has travelled on the Gunners’ pre-season tour and even featured in the friendly win over AC Milan, the new arrivals in attacking areas surely mean his time at his boyhood club is drawing to an end. Fulham are apparently interested in bringing him back.
Trossard has been a very useful tool for Arsenal since arriving from Brighton in January 2023, despite never being a guaranteed starter. Last season, he stepped up in Havertz’s absence in the second half of the campaign, finishing strongly with six goal involvements in eight games to end the league campaign.
However, given the attacking signings the Gunners have made or are about to make, with both the left wing and striker positions being reinforced, it’s hard to see where he will fit. At 30 years old and with just one year to run on his contract, this is probably the opportune moment to cash in amid links to Fenerbahce and Bayern Munich.
A notable absentee from Arsenal’s pre-season tour to Singapore and Hong Kong, although that is mainly the result of his involvement in the Club كأس العالم with loan club Porto. Nevertheless, it would be a surprise to see him return at this stage.
The Portuguese attacking midfielder is certain to feature near the top of the list of players Arteta and Co. will want to move on this summer after an indifferent spell back with his former side. He’s already been linked with newly-promoted الدوري الإيطالي side Parma.
Zinchenko was supposed to be a transformative signing for Arsenal, and while he has helped to push them closer to ending their Premier League title drought, there is a sense they have never quite got the best out of him.
Niggling injuries have put him on the back foot, and some will argue that the versatile Ukrainian should have been utilised in midfield more, where he is a classy operator. The 28-year-old’s limited minutes in the second half of 2024-25 – even when fit – suggest his days at the Emirates are numbered, with one year left on his contract.
