Arsenal: 6 Players on January Departure List

Arsenal’s January window is already taking shape.

Arsenal head into the New Year with a squad that resembles an overflowing Christmas stocking, except that it’s full of presents they don’t want or older version of those they already have.

Finding suitors will require a combination of smooth operating and a helping hand, although the ball has already started moving in that department.

Sead Kolasinac is set to become the first departee of the winter window, as a six-month loan move to former club Schalke 04 is all-but wrapped up. Arsenal will share his wages with the German side, as well as the Bosnian taking a wage cut, meaning Ainsley Maitland-Niles looks set to be the backup left-back for the rest of the campaign.

That departure will kick-start what is hoped to be a flurry of movement both in and out of north London, as in order to bring bodies in Arsenal have to free up space in their bloated squad.

Seeing deals get wrapped up before the window even opens is encouraging signs that more will follow, with up to six among those who could leave. As per football.london, this is who.

Shkodran Mustafi

It will be a memorable day when Shkodran Mustafi leaves Arsenal. No ill wishes or anything of the sort, mind you.

Mustafi is dreadful and has been dreadful for a painfully long time. He’s just one of many who need to leave, but he would be seen as the Pied Piper of Hamelin, leading the way for other equally ineffective squad members to tag along.

The German rejected a contract offer back in October – one that sparked fury from Arsenal fans – but was offered in order to raise a larger price for him further down the line. His representatives have since held talks with Barcelona.

It’s Mustafi’s desire to leave Arsenal and he prefers a January move, although as of yet the only notable suitors are La Blaugrana. Other clubs may be circling, and whether it would be a loan move or permanent deal isn’t known.

Arsenal would be willing to subsidise some of his wages for a temporary departure just to ease the wage bill and make space within the squad before he leaves permanently in the summer.

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.

William Saliba & Calum Chambers

Now at the stage where Arsenal fans are so desperate to see William Saliba play that they aren’t even bothered if it’s elsewhere, wherever he ends up in January will start earning a boost in viewership.

Despite praising his talent and progression in recent weeks, Arteta is still keen on loaning the £27m man out to earn him regular first-team minutes. In his ‘development year’ he’s only made a senior squad on one occasion, and even if the likes of Sokratis and Mustafi depart, Saliba is expected to as well.

Former club Saint-Etienne are still the favourites to secure his services temporarily, a move that should have taken place back in the summer were it not for crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s with a tad more urgency.

It is Arsenal’s wish, however, that he remain in England. That would most likely be a Championship club where he can get up to speed with English football and aid his long-term development.

There is also Calum Chambers who has been mentioned as a possible loan departure having now returned from injury. In his case, any move away will hinge on the futures of his fellow centre-backs. If Sokratis, Mustafi and Saliba leave in whatever capacity, the club are unlikely to sanction a move that would leave them light in that department.

Reiss Nelson

After some starring roles in the welcome distraction of the Europa League, Reiss Nelson‘s name was top of the Hale End pile for players who fans wanted to see given a chance in the Premier League.

Skillful, aggressive and a threat in the final third, he appeared to have all the traits Arsenal were crying out for amid their woeful form in front of goal. In fact, he still does have the talent, he’s just not quite there yet.

This was thought to be view of Arteta, who has not selected him for any of his recent squads. There was a minor concussion injury he suffered in training, but that was nearly one month ago and only on Thursday did the manager admit he made a mistake by not explaining that a muscle injury has kept Nelson out of the team of late.

With January approaching and six other wide forwards to contend with in the squad, Hertha Berlin are expected to enter the fray as a possible destination. Their interest is not new having admired him from his time with Hoffenheim, and linking up with Matteo Guendouzi is in their sights.

Crystal Palace tried and failed to bring Nelson in during the summer, although there has been no mention of their name in regards to a winter approach.

Mesut Ozil

It wouldn’t be transfer season without Mesut Ozil‘s name cropping up. In fact, it wouldn’t be a normal week in any walk of life without the German being involved in some discussion here or there.

Every month a snippet of information emerges confirming Ozil’s desire to see out his Arsenal contract, regardless of outside interest. Despite this, the Gunners have done everything in their power to get the forward off their books in some capacity, a move he’s been unwilling to make regardless of being nowhere near the first team.

Last summer Arsenal offered to pay half of his wages with any potential suitor, with similar terms to be made again in the winter.

With Fenerbahce and DC United, as well as tentative inquiries from Qatari side Al-Sadd, all circling, it still remains highly unlikely that Ozil can be swayed to leave six months in advance. The Turkish and American sides look set to be frontrunners in June when his contract runs out.

What Arsenal may hope can encourage Ozil to leave is the willingness from close friend and teammate Kolasinac to depart north London in favour of regular minutes. The Bosnian is taking a 50% wage cut in order to secure a move back to Germany, while Mustafi could be in line to do likewise. Arsenal will be keen to see whether their departures could spark a domino effect.