Arsenal took one step closer to finally ending their 22-year wait for a Premier League title on Wednesday as Mikel Arteta’s men beat Brighton & Hove Albion in a narrow 1-0 victory – but irrespective of success, there could be eight players on the chopping block this summer, it has been revealed by The Telegraph.
Although the season is far from being over, the Gunners’ recent win – combined with the fact that Manchester City dropped points in a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest – is crucial.
It means that Pep Guardiola’s men will need to lose two games (including their top-of-the-table clash with Arsenal in April) and drop points in another for Arsenal to take the crown and become champions of England.
Arsenal transfer news: Gunners need to sell one first team player
Regardless of whether or not they end their wait for English football’s most prestigious honours, The Telegraph have claimed that last year’s significant outlay is set to have repercussions on their squad.
In fact, it is understood that behind-the-scenes conversations are being had over who would bring in the most money from a straight-up sale.
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In fees alone, the north London outfit spent a whopping £268 million after the end of their most recently completed final year – but who are the eight players, all of whom are of first team status, that could find themselves heading out the Emirates Stadium doors this summer?
Who could be on the chopping block?
Albeit club captain, Martin Odegaard will have two years left on his current deal in the summer months. Could it be time to cash in on the Norway international, who hasn’t always been up to scratch?
Per the report, Odegaard ‘represents a low value on the balance sheet’ and, if sold for a sizeable fee, it would yield a major profit.
Arsenal signed Ben White from Brighton & Hove Albion for £50 million and it’s unlikely that he’d recoup a fee in that bracket – but a sale could be sanctioned nonetheless. The same is said for Gabriel Martinelli.
Following Viktor Gyokeres’ arrival in the summer of 2025, there is a cloud over the future of Gabriel Jesus. Formerly of Manchester City, the Brazilian frontman has contended with an array of injury problems since moving to London and he’ll have just one year left on his deal come the summer.
| Signed | 04/07/2022 |
| Fee | £45 million |
| Matches | 114 |
| Goals | 31 |
| Assists | 22 |
The same goes for Leandro Trossard, who has become an effective option off the left flank. With Arsenal looking for a new left winger, though, the Belgian could be easily replaced.
Kai Havertz is, without a doubt, one of Arsenal’s most important players. Like Odegaard, the versatile German will have just two years remaining at the end of the current campaign – and the club will need either offer a contract extension rather soon.
Two academy graduates, including Nwaneri, at risk of being sold
The report has names Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri – who is currently on loan in France at Marseille – as two potential offloads. Originally a midfielder, the former has lost his spot at left-back and is now behind Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafiori in the pecking order.
In terms of the latter, he recently suffered penalty heartbreak for Marseille and has no easy route back into senior proceedings at the Emirates Stadium given that Eberechi Eze has been signed.
At the time of writing, neither are high up in Arteta’s thinking and selling them would result in pure profit. Even if that does come at the dismay of Arsenal fans, who place huge importance on academy prospects.
