Arsenal: 15 potential player departures after Brighton

Arsenal host Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday in what may be the final Emirates Stadium outing for a number of players in the squad. Mikel Arteta is due to sanction some serious gutting and even if certain individuals don’t play, it could well be their farewell day.

The word ‘rebuild’ has been mentioned to death, so too ‘ruthless’, with there set to be undoubted mentions of either every day for the coming months.

That is the situation Arsenal find themselves in and heading into the final fixture of a season that will finally be over and put an end to the misery, the changes will begin.

Personnel-wise, the quantity of outgoings vary on individual preference as well as feasibility, as while cases can be made for all but around seven or eight of the side to be sold and replaced that is, of course, impossible.

15 potential Arsenal player departures after Brighton clash on final day of Premier League season

Arteta’s lineup for the trip to Crystal Palace was particularly telling – albeit never a safe bet to assume one can fathom the thought processes the manager goes through – with a youthful lineup for once not supported by the senior players who’ve struggled for form and consistency all season.

Looking at the bench on that day, there is scope for all bar one to be moved on in the summer.

Brighton come to town and while with 10,000 fans in attendance for the first time in months it would be a romantic setting for many of the players to bid their farewells, there is still something to play for which will be Arteta’s primary focus.

Excluding those not with the squad and away on loan spells elsewhere, of those set to join the home party on Sunday, how many are facing potential exits in some capacity? For whom could this be the last time they take to the Emirates turf as a member of the home dugout?

There are quite a few.

1. Arsenal Goalkeepers Who Could Leave This Summer

Mat Ryan – Ryan will play no part on Sunday’s fixture given the rules of his loan switch, and despite having another year left on his deal on the south coast he isn’t expected to return to the Seagulls.

Talk over whether Arsenal will keep him on for another year in some capacity or seek elsewhere for backup goalkeeper reinforcements change by the week, and unless they opt to bring in a younger homegrown keeper to provide Leno with cover, they could do much worse.

Bernd Leno – Arteta has spoken in the latter weeks of the season about how every player who has ‘a contract will stay at the club’. This is, obviously, not true and just his catchphrase way of shielding himself from being brought into the world of speculation.

Leno has been listed as one of the senior players who wants to depart in the summer, rumours heightened by his own admission of perhaps seeking a new challenge elsewhere. The manager said his No. 1 ‘belongs’ at the club, yet with two years of his deal remaining he finds himself in that important contractual balance of keep or sell.

Moving Leno on is not a priority but should a club enter in with a firm offer that would secure Arsenal some return on their initial investment, there is little reason to believe they won’t accept. Furthermore, talk of strong interest in £7m-rated Andre Onana has added interesting layers to the conversation.

Alex Runarsson – Will never be good enough to play for Arsenal despite only brief outings. Rarely ever has someone joined the club and looked so desperately out of his depth. A loan or permanent sale could happen.

2. Arsenal Defenders Who Could Leave This Summer

Hector Bellerin – Pretty conclusive is that Bellerin will depart north London this summer. Both parties feel it is the right time for a change, which couldn’t be more true.

The fans will give Bellerin a warm send off. His performances this season have been distinctly average, but he’s a ‘proper Arsenal man’ who has represented this club superbly. A wonderful servant.

Calum Chambers – There is uncertainty around Chambers’ future. All three of Arsenal’s right-backs could be on the move this summer depending on player availability elsewhere, and with just one year left to run on his contract a decision needs to be made on Chambers.

Of the three he is wisest to keep: there is his obvious versatility and professionalism, while he also suits the all important homegrown quota. Not the player to take Arsenal to the next level though, him being moved on wouldn’t be a major shock.

Cedric Soares – Whatever happened to? Playing regularly in the Arsenal team in Kieran Tierney’s stead, Cedric managed to wrestle his way back into the Portugal national team after a two-year absence.

One mistake against Slavia Prague later and he hasn’t touched the turf. Practically fourth choice in either full-back position, Arteta will be looking to move him on if possible, although his age and wages will prove a significant sticking point.

David Luiz – No need to elaborate.

Obrigado, David.

3. Arsenal Midfielders Who Could Leave This Summer

Dani Ceballos – Could? He will.

Praise be.

Martin Odegaard – Most definitely is bidding farewell to Arsenal after Brighton, with the question being whether it will only be temporary goodbyes or permanent ones.

Arteta has waxed lyrical about the Norwegian all year, regularly heralding his ability to control matches, dictate the tempo and run until his socks wear off. Everything signals that the manager will push to bring him back to the club, albeit an operation that grows increasingly less likely by the week.

A permanent deal will cost a small fortune, as will his wages, and the heightened pursuit of Emi Buendia may signal a change of tune. Arteta may want both, but financial restraints could prevent that.

Mohamed Elneny – Here, at the season’s finish line, Elneny has decided to start playing. Two of his best performances of the entire campaign have come in back-to-back outings against Chelsea and Crystal Palace, perhaps unsurprisingly those being alongside Thomas Partey, a partnership which throws his other superb performance, Old Trafford, into the mix.

He is another player with just 12 months left to run on his deal but in the current climate, it’s almost worth letting him run it down as opposed to seeking out a buyer and then securing a replacement. Whatever fee is accrued for Elneny won’t change the landscape of the window, and as a fourth choice option in he centre of the park Arsenal could do worse. They could also do significantly better, mind you.

Granit Xhaka – This is a big one. Mr. Hated and Mr. Loved combined into one Swiss package.

The talk is that Xhaka is eager to leave Arsenal, a five-year journey that understandably in his eyes of run its course. Likewise in those watching on.

His presence has been missed in central midfield, drastically so, and without him Arsenal resemble an unstable mess. But this is a rebuild (there’s that word again) one that can be both frightening and exciting. If it’s going to be a mass exodus and refocus on the magnificent young core then a complete restart would include Xhaka’s departure.

Time to start afresh and build towards the future, his 24 months left also present prime selling opportunity and the 28-year-old has admirers across Europe who’d be willing to secure his signature. Him leaving will be part of the new chapter, yet if he did stay few would overly oppose it.

I get the sneaky feeling this will be his final Arsenal outing.

4. Arsenal Forwards Who Could Leave This Summer

Alexandre Lacazette – Will he feature on Sunday at all? The contract situation with Lacazette has grown increasingly tedious. Throughout the season various outlets have stated one way or the other, while Arteta has both lavished the Frenchman with praise, heralded his importance and also opted against stating whether he’s in line for a new deal.

He should go, with everyone’s best wishes that is, as there are few more likable characters in the squad. It’s time to move on from players like Lacazette.

Willian – One few saw coming up until recently, Willian is ‘expected’ to leave with James Benge since adding that the Brazilian’s desire is to depart north London in the summer.

There are no guarantees of the wishes of every Arsenal fan…and Willian…and probably the club being met though, with his sky-high wages an obvious stumbling block. Yet if the 32-year-old truly does want out then he should be willing to take a wage cut.

Inter Miami, do your thing. Or, you know, literally anyone else.

Eddie Nketiah – Another certain departure, the main gripe with Nketiah’s future is that it should have been handed a head start in January. A loan should have been sanctioned, one that would have given him playing time as well as the chance for Arsenal to potentially boost his value.

There will be suitors for a talented young English striker with Premier League experience. What fee can be garnered is guesswork but Arsenal probably would agree to £12m or so due to his lack of playing time and contract length remaining.

Reiss Nelson – Loan or permanent? Whatever happens with Nelson he won’t be playing his football at Arsenal next season.

Despite being only 21 years old it feels as if Nelson has been around for ages. Deemed the ‘next big thing’ to come out of the academy, his loan spell at Hoffenheim in 2018/19 was meant to be his big take off. He fell out of favour there and has still to play a full season of football in his career.

An entirely wasted campaign for him this term, his value can’t possibly sink any further. Thus, loaning him out for 12 months even without an extension and bringing him back after a campaign of regular football and the undoubted goals that will follow should be pursued. There is nothing to lose and plenty to gain.