Arsenal may have just dropped a big hint that ‘crucial’ player could leave for free this summer

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Arsenal are already making squad-building plans ahead of the summer.

The Gunners are eager to get their business done early, to give Mikel Arteta ample time to work with the ensemble he’ll be using next season.

Andrea Berta wants to add a striker, a winger, a midfielder, a defender and a back-up goalkeeper to Arteta’s ranks, while several players are also expected to leave N5.

Martin Zubimendi is set to sign for Arsenal from Real Sociedad, with the Spaniard’s arrival surely prompting a departure in the North Londoners’ midfield department.

• READ MORE: Arsenal fans are all saying the same thing about the club’s new kit for the 2025-26 season

Thomas Partey left out of Arsenal kit release video

While Zubimendi will likely replace Jorginho in the Arsenal squad, Thomas Partey’s future remains in doubt.

The Ghanaian had been expected to leave the club when his contract expires this summer, although recent developments have emerged suggesting the contrary.

Arsenal now reportedly want to keep Partey, with the Gunners looking to secure the player to a new contract after being impressed by his physical durability this season.

Partey has been described as ‘crucial’, making 50 appearances across all competitions this season.

However, an agreement is yet to materialise, with reports indicating that there may be some issues around the midfielder’s prospective salary on a potential new deal.

Meanwhile, Arsenal released their home kit for the 2025/26 season on Thursday morning.

Partey was nowhere to be seen in any of the promotional content around the kit release, absent from the images released from the photoshoot online and the release video.

Zubimendi was left out of Sociedad’s marketing for their pre-season campaign, which appeared to essentially confirm his exit from San Sebastian.

It’s possible that Partey’s absence from Arsenal’s new kit content could be a similar hint that he won’t be remaining at the Emirates.

The Arsenal players not involved in the home kit launch

Key players who are expected to still be at the club next season were at the heart of modelling the new home shirt, while those left out are largely players at risk of leaving, which could well be telling.

There was no sign of the likes of Leandro Trossard, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jakub Kiwior, Jorginho or Kieran Tierney in any of the photos.

While these absences may be merely coincidental, all five of these players, along with Partey, could all be on their way out.

However, there was also no Ben White, Kai Havertz or Gabriel Jesus, with none of these players likely to be departing Arsenal anytime soon.

Ultimately, not a whole lot can be taken from the kit launch content, although it has certainly proven to be revealing in the past.