Five Arsenal stars at risk as ruthless Arteta prepares for squad overhaul after sending clear transfer message to board
THERE was a noticeable change in tone during Mikel Arteta’s Emirates address on Sunday.
Last season, having taken Manchester City to the final day and agonisingly missing out on the Premier League title by two points, the Arsenal boss was emotional but indignant.
With a beaming smile, Arteta said in May 2024: “Don’t be satisfied, because we want much more than that and we are going to get it.”
Twelve months on – stood on the Emirates pitch once more having confirmed a third-successive second-place Prem spot – there was an anger and frustration weighing down Arteta’s words in the aftermath of a 1-0 victory over Newcastle.
The Spaniard said: “We had a dream, it was to bring the big trophies to you guys. Unfortunately we haven't been able to do it.
“But make sure that chasing that dream doesn't get blurry.
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"Make sure we chase that dream with enthusiasm and positivity towards next season.”
Ahead of one of the biggest summers at the club for years, Arteta then did something he had previously been reluctant to do in public: call out the owners.
Arteta told Sky Sports: “Finish the season, go to the beach, enjoy a few days and make sure the ones upstairs do what they have to do.”
It was clear-cut, unmistakable and cheekily blunt that will remind the board just how important this transfer window is, and how they cannot afford to make any mistakes.
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In a clear message to Stan and Josh Kroenke – the holders of the purse strings in North London – Arteta knows he is a few missing pieces away from guiding the club to major honours, and they need to walk through the door over the next few weeks and months.
Otherwise, for the first time in his five-and-a-half-year reign, the until-now loyal and loving fanbase could turn against their beloved coach and demand change in the pursuit of titles.
In order to avoid that, Arteta will be ruthless not only with incomings but outgoings too.
No one will be safe from the chop, even previously reliable faces.
He admitted in his post-Newcastle press conference: “We need players because the squad is really short, and on top of that we are losing four or five players that are going to end [their] contracts, and their loans are finished.
“So, we need to be sharp, very disciplined in what we want to do, and make sure that we are strong next season.”
Those “four or five” include two loanees – keeper Neto from Bournemouth and winger Raheem Sterling from Chelsea.
Sterling is not expected to be extending his time at Arsenal, but remains in the dark over his future in England with a lack of communication from parent club Chelsea throughout this campaign.
His loan has been viewed as a disappointment, with Arteta expecting a much bigger impact from a player he learned to love during his assistant coach days at Man City, bringing him in on deadline day last summer in a late call to add another body to the squad.
However, there are those who will rightly argue that Sterling has been given little chance to build up any sort of momentum on the pitch, even during Bukayo Saka’s three-month injury absence from December to March, starting just seven games in all competitions since the turn of the year.
Arteta has already moved on from the 30-year-old, opting against bringing him on in what would have been his last chance to play in front of the Emirates fans last weekend.
While 18-year-old Ethan Nwaneri has proved he can provide back-up for Saka on the right wing, Arteta will push to sign a left winger this summer, which will threaten starting spots for the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
Should top target Nico Williams be signed from Athletic Bilbao, then Trossard could be moved on to raise funds – the Belgian has just one year left on his current contract and has been linked to a Saudi move.
Arteta’s ruthlessness is also needed at left-back. Kieran Tierney’s return to Celtic is expected to be completed soon with his deal expiring at the end of the term, while Oleksandr Zinchenko has drawn interest from Borussia Dortmund after losing his place to academy star Myles Lewis-Skelly.
The Ukrainian’s leadership, influence in the dressing room and positional flexibility is highly valued by Arteta, but again, with 12 months left on the 28-year-old’s deal, this could be a chance to cash in on a player they spent £35m on from City in the summer of 2022.
And then there is the midfield dilemma. On the pitch with his family and friends after the Toon victory, Jorginho, 33, acted like he was saying a fond farewell with his contract soon up and a chance to return to his birthplace, Brazil, to see out the rest of his career.
Thomas Partey is in a similar position, but sporting director Andrea Berta is believed to be keen to explore a contract extension for the 31-year-old, even with a £51m deal already agreed for Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi.
Arteta admitted last week that he knew Arsenal’s squad was too small before this season even started.
So, with five potentially out the door, at least five will be targeted to replace them.
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Zubimendi for £51m. Williams for £50m? Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres for around £60m? Espanyol keeper Joan Garcia for around £25m?
This will be a summer of great change at Arsenal, and Arteta knows it is required to achieve great things.