The main target for Arsenal this offseason will probably be discovering enhancements within the squad which ought to lastly bridge the small hole between themselves and Premier League champions Manchester Metropolis.
There’s one apparent precedence right here, and we would anticipate the membership to take care of it fairly shortly: supervisor Mikel Arteta has to increase his contract, which solely has one yr left to run. There is no indication that he and the membership view issues otherwise and the way in which they’ve labored prior to now yr or so has been very a lot aligned, so that you anticipate this to be easy. Ought to issues drag on, nonetheless, it might have a unfavorable impact on their summer time exercise, for the easy cause that golf equipment are detest to decide to a challenge if the coach is not in place long run. Once more, it is an unlikely consequence, however till he commits past 2025, the potential of the membership pulling in a distinct route stays.
It is a younger crew which was largely damage free the previous two seasons. Moderately than having obtrusive holes to fill, it is extra about upgrading what’s there already and including depth. Having spent very massive final summer time on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurriën Timber, and having prolonged quite a few contracts, Arsenal are unlikely to spend anyplace close to final season’s £140 million. Particularly since some £27m has already been dedicated to make the transfer for goalkeeper David Raya everlasting. That mentioned, there may be room to maneuver whereas staying throughout the Premier League’s revenue and sustainability guidelines.
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Editor’s observe: That is the second on this yr’s sequence of Hold or Dump over the approaching weeks, taking a look at which gamers to maintain, prolong and transfer on from for all the highest golf equipment within the Premier League and Europe. You may learn Man Metropolis’s characteristic right here.
KEEP/DUMP GROUND RULES
Keep in mind: That is our evaluation of what we expect the membership ought to do, participant for participant, with the squad at their disposal. It is not what we expect they are going to really do, although typically the 2 will align. That mentioned, we have in mind what we all know of the membership, teaching employees and participant preferences, in addition to their monetary state of affairs and every other issue that we expect will influence personnel strikes.
The place we disagree, or the place we expect our rationale is value explaining, we have famous under.
GOALKEEPERS
David Raya (28 years previous, contract expires 2025; on mortgage from Brentford)
Ogden: He is technically on mortgage from Brentford, however Arsenal have an obligation to purchase that may additionally give him a one-year extension. I have never been completely satisfied by him — I believe he acquired away with a number of issues final yr — however he is clearly Arteta’s first alternative. So, you would wish to make his deal everlasting and provides him not less than one other season, although 2027.
Verdict: Safe completely and prolong his contract
Aaron Ramsdale, (26, 2026 + 1-year extension possibility)
Marcotti: He hardly performed after September of final yr, making simply two appearances within the league — each in opposition to Brentford when Raya was ineligible in opposition to his father or mother membership. It is a man with 4 years as a Premier League starter beneath his belt, two of them at Arsenal. You’d think about he needs to play commonly and at his age, you will get a good price for him.
Ogden: I agree you need to get price for him, although it is tough with keepers, as a result of there are solely so many beginning jobs. Plus, he’ll be on good wages and different gifted reserve keepers, like Caoimhín Kelleher (Liverpool) and Stefan Ortega (Man Metropolis), might be available on the market too.
Verdict: Transfer on
Karl Hein (22, 2025)
Marcotti: He is been there for six years, and apart from 5 video games on mortgage at Studying two seasons again and a League Cup recreation in 2022, he is by no means performed first-team soccer. And but he has 29 caps for Estonia so presumably any person charges him. There is no level in him being the third keeper. Lengthen his deal, ship him on mortgage someplace the place he can play and determine if he has a future on the membership.
Verdict: Lengthen and mortgage out
Arthur Okonkwo (22, 2024; on mortgage at Wrexham)
Verdict: Launch
DEFENDERS
William Saliba (23 years previous, contract expires in 2027)
Verdict: Hold
Gabriel (26, 2027)
Ogden: Hold him, however you must be looking out for any person higher. He will be rash and overly bodily in how he performs; going ahead, Arsenal might want to iron out these flaws.
Verdict: Hold
Jurriën Timber (22, 2028)
Marcotti: Missed almost all of final season by means of damage, so he is a basic “like a brand new signing.”
Verdict: Hold
Oleksandr Zinchenko (27, 2026)
Marcotti: Arteta moved to a extra defensive left-back profile this yr and you may’t take into account him a starter anymore, particularly with Timber match. He is on massive cash, I believe you must hearken to affords for him and attempt to shift him … until you assume he can reinvent himself as a central midfielder, which is the place he performed earlier in his profession.
Ogden: He was signing, served a goal and made a distinction — however it is time to let him go. They’ve others who match Arteta’s system higher and you may elevate some funds.
Verdict: Take heed to affords/transfer on
Jakub Kiwior (24, 2028)
Verdict: Hold
Ben White (26, 2028 + 1-year extension possibility)
Verdict: Hold
Takehiro Tomiyasu (25, 2026 + 1-year extension possibility)
Verdict: Hold
Cedric Soares (32, 2024)
Verdict: Launch
Nuno Tavares (24, 2025; on mortgage at Nottingham Forest)
Marcotti: I believe that is your final probability to get one thing again for him, since I doubt he’ll need to prolong after two years on mortgage. Accidents slowed him down at Forest, however he was stable at Marseille the yr earlier than. With a yr left, perhaps you get £5m to £8m?
Verdict: Transfer on
Kieran Tierney (26, 2026; on mortgage at Actual Sociedad)
Ogden: He introduced character and persona when he arrived from Celtic, however time has moved on and Arteta clearly needs one thing completely different from his left-back. Missed two months by means of damage and solely made 13 begins at Actual Sociedad within the league. He’ll need to play, so I believe you are taking what you will get for him, even when it is as little as £10m to £12m.
Verdict: Transfer on
MIDFIELDERS
Declan Rice (25 years previous, contract expires in 2028)
Verdict: Hold
Thomas Partey (30, 2025)
Marcotti: He missed an enormous chunk of the season and is on massive wages. Rather a lot is determined by what sort of market there may be for him, what he needs to do, and whether or not you herald a substitute. If he finally ends up staying and shares time with Jorginho, that is not a foul factor, although they will need to herald a long-term successor both this summer time or subsequent. And if he is match and joyful, then give him a brand new deal in January. Both method, there is not any have to act now.
Verdict: Take heed to affords, don’t prolong
Jorginho (32, 2025)
Marcotti: You do not need him taking part in each recreation, and he most likely does not need to play each recreation, however in sure conditions his ability set is important for this crew. And it is exhausting to discover a substitute that offers you each his passing and the defending and physicality that Partey offers. So, a bit like his teammate, hold him round for now, however be looking out for another.
Verdict: Hold, don’t prolong
Mohamed Elneny (31, 2024)
Verdict: Launch
Martin Ødegaard (25, 2028)
Verdict: Hold
Kai Havertz (24, 2028)
Verdict: Hold
Emile Smith Rowe (23, 2026)
Marcotti: On the one hand, he has began simply three league video games prior to now two years. It is fairly clear Arteta does not see him as a precedence. Alternatively, he is additionally had some accidents and the man he’d be changing is Ødegaard, who’s extraordinarily sturdy and by no means will get damage. I believe you must see what market there may be for him and perhaps you may elevate some £20m to £25m. Keep in mind although that if he goes, he’ll should be changed. Ødegaard is sturdy, however not unbreakable.
Ogden: At 23, he is any person who will both sink with out a hint or become a extremely good participant. But when he does not get on the pitch, he isn’t going to develop, and you could elevate cash. I might sit him down, clarify this and look to maneuver him on.
Verdict: Take heed to affords/transfer on
Fabio Vieira (23, 2027)
Marcotti: Sure, he is had accidents, but it surely’s simply 5 begins in two years for him and he hasn’t pulled up bushes when he has performed. I am not snug with him as Ødegaard’s backup. Finest to mortgage him someplace the place he can develop and develop. He is nonetheless locked right into a long-term deal anyway.
Verdict: Mortgage out
Albert Lokonga (24, 2026; on mortgage at Luton City)
Marcotti: Until you get one other defensive midfielder, you convey him again and prolong his deal, if solely to protect his switch worth. I assumed he did nicely at Luton, he works exhausting and could be a respectable backup for each Rice and whichever one out of Partey and Jorginho begins.
Verdict: Hold and prolong
FORWARDS
Gabriel Martinelli (22 years previous, contract expires in 2027 + 1-year extension possibility)
Marcotti: He was much less efficient this season than final yr, but it surely’s the basic case the place it does not make sense to hearken to affords after a down yr. He is solely 22, greatest to provide him an opportunity to bounce again and proceed to develop. Plus, with Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal produce other choices who supply loads of insurance coverage in that position.
Verdict: Hold
Leandro Trossard (29, 2026)
Ogden: He is carried out rather well, although I would not prolong his contract simply but. See how issues are in January.
Verdict: Hold, consider in January
Bukayo Saka (22, 2027)
Ogden: He is completely essential for Arsenal’s progress on and off the pitch. His contract state of affairs is ok for now but when trophies do not come alongside, he’ll appeal to curiosity from golf equipment who can supply each cash and success. It is vital that Arsenal keep forward of the curve and guarantee his contract all the time displays his significance.
Verdict: Hold
Reiss Nelson (24, 2027)
Ogden: There is no cause to maintain him. They’ve loads of different gamers who can play in his place and do it higher than he does.
Verdict: Transfer on
Gabriel Jesus (27, 2027)
Marcotti: He is had his critics, however he provides you loads of effort and works exhausting. I agree with Pep Guardiola, although: He is much more viable as a large participant than as a beginning centre-forward, however he is choice to have.
Verdict: Hold
Eddie Nketiah (24, 2027)
Ogden: You may get a price for him and clear the trail for an additional centre-forward. He works exhausting and folks fall for that type of factor, pondering he is one other Ian Wright. Which he isn’t, given he is by no means been a starter in his profession and has by no means scored greater than 5 league objectives in a season.
Marcotti: I am nice with listening to affords, however I genuinely do not assume he’ll need to depart. Additionally, whereas he hardly ever begins and does not rating a lot, Arteta makes use of him loads in its place. He appeared in 57 Premier League video games the previous two years, which is mind-blowing actually. I am additionally unsure that securing a correct centre-forward is as a lot of a precedence as some make it.
Verdict: Transfer/Take heed to affords
Marquinhos (21, 2027; on mortgage at Fluminense)
Marcotti: He is been out on mortgage nearly since he arrived and that is nice — let him develop. A minimum of up to now, he is getting begins at Fluminense.
Verdict: Mortgage out
OVERALL VERDICT
Standard knowledge is that the only largest precedence for Arsenal is bringing in a prolific, big-name striker able to scoring 25 to 30 objectives a yr. We would push again in opposition to that a little bit, not least as a result of Arsenal had been the second-highest scoring crew within the Premier League in every of the previous two seasons. You do not essentially want a prime aim scorer, if the objectives are unfold all through the aspect, as Manchester Metropolis proved within the years earlier than they picked up Erling Haaland.
Havertz has been utilized in completely different roles and is probably not a standard centre-forward to some, however within the latter a part of the season turned Arteta’s favoured placing possibility and ended up with 13 league objectives. Given he solely spent about 40% of his minutes up entrance, that is not a foul return. So, fairly than spending massive on a first-rate striker, we would search for somebody who can supply an alternative choice to Havertz, but additionally be nice coming off the bench or, in some conditions, taking part in with Havertz.
The largest concern is the succession plan in central midfield. Arsenal are best when Rice is not on his personal in entrance of the again 4 however fairly free to assault and get ahead. Meaning securing a deep-lying midfielder. The excellent news is that Arsenal needn’t panic purchase right here, as a result of some mixture of Partey and Jorginho can see them by means of one other season successfully. If the appropriate alternative comes alongside, nice, if not, wait till subsequent summer time.
Shifting Ramsdale (and the financial savings on wages) ought to pay for Raya’s transfer changing into everlasting, although they will have to put money into a reserve keeper. They may most likely do with some extra defensive depth and doubtlessly an improve on Gabriel, whom Ogden finds “a bit erratic.”
If they’ll shift Tierney, Tavares and Nelson, they’ll elevate some funds to place towards the ahead line. There will probably be key calls to make on Zinchenko, Smith Rowe and Nketiah too. On the proper worth — and with the appropriate substitute within the case of the latter two — we agree they need to be moved on. However solely in the appropriate circumstances. There aren’t too many expensive contract extensions to fret about proper now (although there will probably be in a yr or two), however the single largest one — like we mentioned — will probably be Arteta himself.
