Arsenal are expected to keep the core of their title-winning squad, but several senior players could still leave this summer.
There is no obvious sense, nor need, of a clear-out coming at Arsenal this summer, but there are still decisions to make across Mikel Arteta’s squad as the club move from title winners to champions trying to stay there.
The core is not going anywhere. David Raya has just won a third consecutive Golden Glove and should be renewed. Kepa Arrizabalaga appears settled as the club’s No 2 and, despite a few errors in the League Cup, remains a capable deputy. Tommy Setford is highly-rated and has been around the squad, but with only three senior minutes this season, the question is whether Arsenal keep him close or seek a loan that gives him regular football.
In defence, most of the work will be about retention rather than replacing players. William Saliba renewed in September and made his feelings plain while celebrating with the Premier League trophy, shouting “I love this club!”
Cristhian Mosquera has looked like outstanding business after arriving for €15m, while Gabriel has been one of Arsenal’s players of the season and recently signed fresh terms. Riccardo Calafiori is Arsenal’s first-choice left-back and Myles Lewis-Skelly forced his way into greater relevance late in the season, particularly after emerging in midfield against Atletico Madrid.
The less settled cases are still unlikely to bring major upheaval. There has been talk around Ben White, but much of it appears to come from external interest and his contract position, without acknowledging Arsenal hold an option of a further year. Arsenal should keep him.
Piero Hincapie is technically still on loan, but Arsenal are obliged to buy him for €52m, so that will become permanent.
Jurrien Timber, meanwhile, is in talks over a new deal and should be renewed.
Midfield is where an exit looks more logical.
Martin Odegaard should be renewed, with his absence this season only underlining how much Arsenal missed his ability to unlock defences and connect the team. Mikel Merino is as indispensable, and his injury was a major blow, so he should also be renewed.
Declan Rice should be in line for a new deal and a substantial pay rise after a season in which Arsenal do not win the title without him. Martin Zubimendi tired as the season wore on, having played more football than ever before, but he remains a superb player at the start of his Arsenal career.
That leaves Christian Norgaard as the most obvious midfield sale. He arrived from Brentford for €11.6m and looked like sensible business at the time, but the season has made the deal harder to understand. Arteta clearly does not trust him, reflected in just 101 league minutes, and it would make sense for Arsenal to move him on if they can.
The forward line is where the summer could feel more significant. Bukayo Saka has only just renewed and should never be going anywhere. Max Dowman is too exciting to consider anything other than keeping, while Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke and Kai Havertz should all remain. Gyokeres found his rhythm in the second half of the season, and the presence of a fit Havertz should only help him next year. Havertz himself should be renewed, given how often Arsenal supporters were left saying, “If only Kai was fit”.
The likely exits come elsewhere. Gabriel Jesus will be remembered as an important signing, one who helped start the Arteta era properly, but injuries and age now point towards the end of his time at the club. Gabriel Martinelli is a more emotional case. He is loved, but Arsenal need an upgrade on the left wing, his post after receiving his Premier League winner’s medal read like a goodbye, and the absence of a new contract offer feels significant. If he stays, he may get even fewer minutes next season.
Leandro Trossard is in a similar position for different reasons. He has been reliable and has scored important goals, but he is 31, has one year left on his contract and has not been offered new terms. If Arsenal overhaul the left wing, one of Martinelli or Trossard might stay as cover, but the stronger reading is that both could be moved on if the right deals appear.
Arsenal keepers
David Raya
- Age: 30
- Contract until: 30/06/28 (two years remaining)
- Value: €35m (lol what?)
David Raya won his third consecutive Golden Glove this season and is probably the best keeper in the world.
- Keep, sell, loan or renew? Renew
Kepa Arrizabalaga
- Age: 31
- Contract until: 30/06/28 (two years remaining)
- Value: €7m
Kepa seems happy as number two at Arsenal and while he made a few errors, particularly in the League Cup, is an able deputy. There have been no rumours that he looking to leave and is probably eyeing up winning some cups with the Gunners next season.
- Keep, sell, loan or renew? Keep
Tommy Setford
- Age: 20
- Contract until: 30/06/28 (two years remaining)
- Value: €?
Tommy Setford played just three senior minutes this season but was in the squad 14 times and it is clear he is highly rated at the club. It seems highly unlikely he will leave but do the club want to test him at a higher level more regularly? Perhaps.
- Keep, sell, loan or renew? Keep and/or loan.
Arsenal defenders
William Saliba
- Age: 25
- Contract until: 30/06/30 (four years remaining)
- Value: €90m
William Saliba renewed his contract in September and, as he celebrated with the Premier League trophy on Saturday shouted “I love this club!”
- Keep, sell, loan or renew? Keep
Cristhian Mosquera
- Age: 21
- Contract until: 30/06/30 (four years remaining)
- Value: €35m
Only arriving last summer for just €15m, Cristhian Mosquera has excelled this season when called upon. I’ve said many times throughout the season that Arsenal should be investigated for theft due to his price.
- Keep, sell, loan or renew? Keep
Ben White
- Age: 28
- Contract until: 30/06/30 (two years remaining with option for additional year)
- Value: €30m
There has been a lot of talk that Ben White would be leaving Arsenal this summer but that mostly seems to be based on other clubs being interested and his contract status (without mention of the option for another year).
- Keep, sell, loan or renew? Keep, probably
Piero Hincapie
- Age: 28
- Contract until: 30/06/26
- Value: €50m
Piero Hincapie is only at Arsenal on loan although they are obliged to buy him this summer for €52m.
- Keep, buy, sell, loan or renew? Buy
Gabriel
- Age: 28
- Contract until: 30/06/29 (three years remaining)
- Value: €75m
One of Arsenal’s players of the season in 25/26, he was recently renewed and will be going nowhere.
- Keep, sell, loan or renew? Keep
Jurrien Timber
- Age: 24
- Contract until: 30/06/28 (two years remaining)
- Value: €70m
Arsenal are in talks to renew his contract.
- Keep, sell, loan or renew? Renew
Riccardo Calafiori
- Age: 24
- Contract until: 30/06/29 (three years remaining)
- Value: €50m
Arsenal’s first-choice left-back.
- Keep, sell, loan or renew? Keep
Myles Lewis-Skelly
- Age: 19
- Contract until: 30/06/30 (four years remaining)
- Value: €35m
Was largely unused for most of the season until he emerged as a midfielder against Atletico Madrid.
- Keep, sell, loan or renew? Keep
Arsenal midfield
Martin Odegaard
- Age: 27
- Contract until: 30/06/28 (two years remaining)
- Value: €65m
Martin Odegaard’s value was felt this season when he was injured and his ability to unlock defences and connect play was sorely missed from what could have been an even greater Premier League win had he been able to play more.
- Keep, sell, loan or renew? Renew
Christian Norgaard
- Age: 32
- Contract until: 30/06/27 (one year remaining with option for additional year)
- Value: €7m
Arriving as captain of Brentford for just €11.6m, this seemed like a great bit of business. Now, it is a confusing piece of business. Mikel Arteta clearly doesn’t trust him (he played just 101 league minutes).
- Keep, sell, loan or renew? Sell
Mikel Merino
- Age: 29
- Contract until: 30/06/28 (two years remaining)
- Value: €30m
What a blow his injury was! An indispensable member of the squad.
- Keep, sell, loan or renew? Renew
Martin Zubimendi
- Age: 27
- Contract until: 30/06/30 (four years remaining)
- Value: €80m
Tired a little as he played more football than ever before, but a superb player who is only getting started at the club.
- Keep, sell, loan or renew? Keep
Declan Rice
- Age: 27
- Contract until: 30/06/28 (two years remaining with option for further year)
- Value: €120m
Arsenal don’t win the Premier League without Declan Rice and I would expect that to be reflected in a new deal with a massive pay rise.
- Keep, sell, loan or renew? Renew
Arsenal forwards
Bukayo Saka
- Age: 24
- Contract until: 30/06/30 (four years remaining)
- Value: €120m
Recently renewed, will hopefully never be going anywhere, ever.
- Keep, sell, loan or renew? Keep
Max Dowman
- Age: 16
- Contract until: 30/06/27 (one year remaining until his first professional deal kicks in)
- Value: €20m
How good is he going to be next season?
- Keep, sell, loan or renew? Keep
Gabriel Jesus
- Age: 29
- Contract until: 30/06/27 (one year remaining)
- Value: €20m
Gabriel Jesus will be remembered as an iconic signing that really kicked off the Arteta era, but with injuries and advancing age, it seems clear his time at the club has come to an end.
- Keep, sell, loan or renew? Sell
Eberechi Eze
- Age: 27
- Contract until: 30/06/29 (three years remaining with option for further year)
- Value: €60m
He’s only just got here and is still letting it all work out. I expect even more from him next season.
- Keep, sell, loan or renew? Keep
Gabriel Martinelli
- Age: 24
- Contract until: 30/06/27 (one year remaining with option for further year)
- Value: €45m
I love Gabriel Martinelli and don’t want him to leave but an upgrade on the left wing is needed. His post after picking up his Premier League winner’s medal read like a goodbye message, and while he will want more minutes, he is likely to get even fewer next season if he remains. The fact he hasn’t been offered a new deal is also a big sign.
- Keep, sell, loan or renew? Sell
Viktor Gyokeres
- Age: 27
- Contract until: 30/06/30 (four years remaining)
- Value: €65m
Really found his feet in the second half of the season and, with a fit Kai Havertz in the squad, should flourish next season.
- Keep, sell, loan or renew? Keep
Leandro Trossard
- Age: 31
- Contract until: 30/06/27 (one year remaining)
- Value: €20m
A reliable player with a tidy habit of scoring important goals, his age and lack of contract offer seem to point to his exit along with Martinelli’s as Arsenal look to overhaul their left wing. There is the change one of them stays as cover.
- Keep, sell, loan or renew? Sell
Noni Madueke
- Age: 24
- Contract until: 30/06/30 (four years)
- Value: €50m
Only just arrived.
- Keep, sell, loan or renew? Keep
Kai Havertz
- Age: 26
- Contract until: 30/06/28 (two years remaining)
- Value: €50m
“If only Kai was fit” was perhaps the most common thing said by all Arsenal fans this season.
- Keep, sell, loan or renew? Renew
Recap
Keep: Raya, Kepa, Saliba, Mosquera, White, Gabriel, MLS, Zubimendi, Saka, Dowman, Eze, Gyokeres, Madueke, Havertz
Sell: Martinelli/and or Trossard, Norgaard, Jesus
Loan: Setford
Renew: Rice, Merino, Odegaard, Timber
Buy: Hincapie