Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has hinted at sales this summer, claiming that his squad is currently too big.
The Gunners secured an impressive 5-3 victory over Barcelona in the final pre-season game of their USA tour, and new signings Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice have all linked up with the squad having arrived earlier in the window.
It has been a busy summer for Arsenal, with an outlay of over £200m so far, but they are currently seeing minimal progress when it comes to sales.
Granit Xhaka departed for Bayer Leverkusen, but fringe players such as Nuno Tavares, Nicolas Pepe and Rob Holding are still at the club.
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Speaking after the win over Barcelona, Arteta hinted that he would like to see progress being made on exits, with the squad currently too large for his liking.
“We have 30 players here which is unsustainable, and obviously the market is still open, and things can happen – but we are prepared,” he stated.
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“We are really happy with the squad we have at the moment; we obviously have improvements to make in terms of what we want to do in games, and we have to do that. Overall, I’m really pleased with the team.”
Who should Arsenal sell?
There is currently a mixture of obvious deadwood and valuable assets that could all leave this summer. First team regulars Thomas Partey and Kieran Tierney have been linked with moves, but keeping them as options would help pad the squad with quality depth.
Folarin Balogun is a valuable asset who could depart, having come back from an impressive loan spell at Stade De Reims, and given that there is plenty of interest in him, it seems likely that he could leave for a significant fee.
Likewise with Charlie Patino, Arsenal may have preferred to loan these young talents, but the midfielder is keen on a permanent move in search of regular football, and the teenager could also attract a good fee.
The likes of Pepe, Tavares, Runar Alex Runarsson, Cedric Soares and Holding are unlikely to command good fees, but cutting these players from the wage bill and trimming the squad size seems to be Arsenal’s next priority before any further incomings.