While Arsenal’s focus is rightfully on incomings, the broader work needed this summer for the club goes beyond just recruitment. Mikel Arteta admitted during the final home match of the season that several players are expected to leave the club for a variety of reasons.
“Obviously, we need players because the squad is really short, and on top of that, we are losing four or five players who are going to end their contracts, and their loans are finished,” he said. “So, we need to be sharp.
“Again, very disciplined in what we want to do, and make sure that we are strong in the next season.”
It is not too difficult to work out who those four or five players are. Kieran Tierney, Jorginho, Neto, and Raheem Sterling will exit as contracts and loans end, but there are also likely to be exits regarding sales.
Thomas Partey’s contract is also up. However, there are talks underway with the club over a potential renewal, with growing hope that the Ghanaian will stay with the team next season, fooball.london understands.
The club suffered many times without Partey due to injury during his five seasons at the club until Declan Rice arrived in 2023. In 2021, the club signed young midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga, who would often come in to replace Partey when the former Atletico Madrid midfielder was not fit.
He spent the latest season on loan with Sevilla, but like Partey, he cannot escape multiple injuries. Hamstring problems interrupted his displays for the Spanish side, and the club has decided not to activate the purchase clause of around £10million in his deal.
He could return to the club to become a fourth option in the six-man roster behind Partey and Rice and the expected arrival of Martin Zubimendi. Arteta has reiterated how short the club is, so an extra player could be beneficial.
However, this outcome is the most unlikely and a permanent exit from the club this summer appears to be the far more expected outcome. The club would prefer a permanent sale, but whether there is enough interest in the Belgian remains to be seen.
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