Arsenal: 6 Players on January Departure List

Sokratis Papastathopoulos

Another player who is ‘open’ to leaving Arsenal is Sokratis Papastathopoulos, who has been left out of both the Premier League and Europa League squads for the first half of the season. Featuring only for the Under-23 side, those minutes are with an eye on gaining match sharpness ahead of a departure elsewhere.

The 32-year-old does have the luxury of interest from across Europe, with his experience and pedigree managing to earn him admirers despite his lack of senior football. He’s not been Arsenal grade for a while, though.

Napoli were the closest to securing his signature in the summer, as well as another unnamed major European side – thought not to be Paris Saint-Germain – however, his move to Italy fell through as Manchester City didn’t complete a deal for Kalidou Koulibaly.

Back in his native Greece, Olympiacos remain long-term admirers of Sokratis, providing another potential destination. Starting his career out in his homeland, as the twilight stage of his playing days approaches such an avenue out of Arsenal may grow more alluring.

If the Greek defender is to leave in January, much will hinge on whether interested parties have centre-backs of their own moving elsewhere, in a similar vein to Napoli’s previous approach falling through.