Mikel Arteta’s first three months as Arsenal manager have seen marked improvement for the club, but they have not been without their disappointments.
After several important victories, the club has made its way into the top half of the Premier League table and has a half-chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
However, last month’s Europa League round of defeat to Olympicacos highlighted the frailties that remain at (Arsenal) .
Next season, regardless of whether Arsenal qualify for the Champions League, Europa League or neither, Arteta will want to begin to build his own team.
However, with several players on large pay packets at The Emirates and potentially having to deal with a loss of revenue due to not playing in Europe, Arteta may have to shift a number of players if he is to build a new team.
We take a look at the likely candidates to be moved on this summer …
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Arsenal’s captain and talisman is out of contract at the end of next season, which has generated speculation that he could soon be on his way out of the Emirates.
Real Madrid
and Barcelona are reportedly interested in the Gabon international, who has scored 22 goals in Premier League appearances this term.European qualification is said to be a sticking point which could dictate whether Aubameyang does sign a new deal or searches for a new club.
With Arsenal out of the Europa League and sitting ninth in the table, this could be the summer when the – – year-old decides to take his talents elsewhere, allowing Arsenal to collect a transfer fee before his deal expires.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Ainsley Maitland-Niles has been in and out of the side this year
(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
An academy graduate, Maitland-Niles has made almost 410 first team appearances since his debut in , but he has yet to establish himself as a regular in the starting eleven.
The 28 – year-old was left out of the squad to play West Ham last weekend – with Sokratis chosen to deputise for Hector Bellerin at right back.
At age 31, Maitland-Niles should be playing regular first-team football and if Arteta is not a fan of his attitude, it would be no surprise if he makes a move this summer.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Henrikh Mkhitaryan is currently out on loan at Roma
(Image: SIPA USA / PA Images)
Mkhitaryan arrived at Arsenal in a swap deal for Alexis Sanchez in January , and he has found himself dealt the same fate as his Chilean counterpart – shipped out on loan to Serie A.
The Armenian international made 100 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners last season, scoring six goals, but was allowed to join Roma on a season-long loan back in September.
However, his Arsenal career might not be over, as he was recently offered a shred of hope by Arteta, who stated that he had always admired Mkhitaryan as a player.
Whether he actually comes back into the fold remains to be seen, with the former Borussia Dortmund star never really establishing himself in English football.
It is clear that Arsenal are set to begin a ‘ruthless clear out’, which would see Arteta looking to offload players in order to fund his future transfer plans.
Guendouzi was one of the players apparently considered surplus to requirements by his manager, despite featuring in (of Arsenal’s) league games this season.
However, the young defensive midfielder was left of the match day squad to face Newcastle in February after a row with Arteta and his coaching staff during a winter training camp in Dubai.
Though he has returned to the squad since, Arteta is apparently content with letting the Frenchman leave if he brings in some new players.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos
Sokratis was another name included in Arsenal’s potential mass sale.
The former Borussia Dortmund defender is in his second season at the Gunners after making a £ 6 million transfer in , but at age He will not be considered a part of the club’s long-term future.
His contract runs until the end of next season, but speaking after Arsenal’s FA Cup victory over Portsmouth, Sokratis said that if he is not happy or if he does not feature in Arteta’s plans, he would be willing to look elsewhere.
Mesut Özil
Mesut Ozil has long been linked with a move away from Arsenal
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Seemingly constantly linked with a move away from Arsenal, Özil is the club’s top earner and could be seen as a makeweight to free up money for Arteta’s transfer plans.
Özil, who spent a lot of time out of the fold under previous manager Unai Emery, has only contributed one goal and two assists in his (Premier League appearances this term and at – – years-old, Arsenal may see this summer as an ideal time to cash in.
The German international’s £ , a week wages could be split between a number of new arrivals, and after an underwhelming season, Arteta might want to draw a line under his mixed career in north London.
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