Signings secured, Arsenal's focus turns to summer departures

After a busy transfer window, Arsenal’s summer departures are next in Mikel Arteta’s plan.

So far, the Gunners did well to bring in quality players in significant positions. Undoubtedly, center-forward Gabriel Jesus is the most important acquisition this summer. However, they also bought other reinforcements across the pitch. For example, attacking midfielder Fabio Vieira, American goalkeeper Matt Turner, and winger Marquinhos all now call the Emirates home. Plus, Manchester City’s Oleksandr Zinchenko looks set to be the north London club’s next signing. Manchester City and Arsenal reached a deal. Now, all that remains is personal terms for the Ukrainian to move to North London.

Clearly, Arsenal is not done buying players. However, the priority now is to offload quite a few fringe players.

Arsenal’s summer departures

With the turn of the season, previously loaned players return to Arsenal under contract. That includes six players that are excess to requirements in Mikel Arteta’s plans. Hector Bellerin, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Pablo Mari, Reiss Nelson, Alex Runarsson, and Lucas Torreira are all most likely entering their final days as Arsenal players.

Along with this sextet, Bernd Leno, Nuno Tavares, and Nicolas Pepe could also be on the move this summer. That brings the total of potential sales to nine players. Although most of these players fail to collect huge transfer fees, selling them all helps the club in three different ways. Firstly, the transfer fees. However big or small this is, it is funding. In selling these players, Arteta and technical director Edu have more at their disposal in the transfer market this summer.

Secondly, player wages in the club fall quite drastically is the aforementioned nine players depart. Currently, the collective nine make a total of about $812,000 per week. Selling these players saves Arsenal somewhere in the range of This means that selling these players could essentially save the club around $42 million annually in wages.

Fitting in the system

These nine players do not fit Arteta’s plans with the team. Selling them also frees up space for new recruits. After a campaign without European play, Arsenal return to the Europa League for the 2022/23 season. This means that the club requires a bigger squad. After all, more matches means more tired legs. If Arsenal sells all nine of these players this summer, Arteta requires a few more pieces to fill out the depth necessities of the squad.

Nevertheless, some of the possible departures need not replacement. Currently, the Gunners have five goalkeepers in the senior team. Selling Leno and Runarsson does not affect the squad. Turner arrived for direct competition to current No. 1, Aaron Ramsdale. In a similar situation, selling (or loaning) Bellerin and Mari would also not necessarily mean new recruits would be needed in these particular positions.

Arteta and Edu are off to a good start in bringing more talent to the team. But, Arsenal’s summer departures is just as important. The manager has a clear set of attributes that he wants in his players. Arsenal fans hope that he can grab a few more quality players before the start of the upcoming season.

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