Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal have ‘so many things’ to sort out this summer after disastrous season

Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal have ‘so many things’ to sort out this summer after disastrous season… but is ‘hopeful’ days of paying players like Mesut Ozil to leave are over and insists they will NOT have to sell before buying

  • Arsenal are set for no European football for the first time in 25 years next season 
  • The Gunners sit ninth in the table and were knocked out of Europe last week 
  • Reports claim Hector Bellerin and Bernd Leno could head exodus this summer 
  • Mikel Arteta insists there will be a lot of changes with personnel in the window

Mikel Arteta has admitted that huge changes are likely to happen at Arsenal this summer following their underwhelming campaign across all competitions this season.

The Gunners look set to head into next term without European football for the first time in 25 years, sitting ninth in the Premier League table and having suffered a Europa League semi-final exit at the hands of Villarreal last week.

The last three weeks have seen supporters calling for change at the highest level, with fans protesting against owner Stan Kroenke following the failed Super League ploy and amid Spotify co-owner Daniel Ek’s interest in buying the club.

Mikel Arteta has admitted that huge changes are likely to happen at Arsenal this summer

The Gunners look set to miss out on European football for the first time in 25 years

The Gunners look set to miss out on European football for the first time in 25 years

Meanwhile, reports earlier this week suggested right-back and vice-captain Hector Bellerin and first-choice goalkeeper Bernd Leno could lead an exodus from the Emirates Stadium this summer. 

And speaking ahead of his side’s visit to Champions League and FA Cup finalists Chelsea on Wednesday, Arteta insisted there will also be significant movement with regards to player arrivals, departures and contract negotiations this summer. 

‘There are so many things to do because we already have a lot of players on loan, a lot of players with contracts still that we have to sort and it will depend on what happens with a lot of those players,’ he said.

‘And what we are able to recruit to improve the team is going to determine where we are.

Reports have suggested Hector Bellerin could lead an exodus at the Emirates Stadium

Reports have suggested Hector Bellerin could lead an exodus at the Emirates Stadium

Arteta is hopeful they will not have to pay players to leave like they did with Mesut Ozil in January

Arteta is hopeful they will not have to pay players to leave like they did with Mesut Ozil in January

‘We have been sitting down the whole year, we have been in constant communication, and things will change. 

‘Some things will stick to the plan that we already have and some other things will come out. But we sit down very, very regularly to talk about those things, obviously.’

The most recent permanent squad departures saw former top earner Mesut Ozil, as well as defenders Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi, cancel their contracts via mutual consent in January, with the trio going on to join Fenerbahce, Olympiakos and Schalke respectively.

But asked if the club could face a similar situation this summer in having to fork out more money to force players out of the exit door, Spaniard Arteta said he was hopeful that would not be the case.  

Shkodran Mustafi (left) and Sokratis (right) also mutually cancelled their contracts in January

Shkodran Mustafi (left) and Sokratis (right) also mutually cancelled their contracts in January

Maitland-Niles has gone on loan to West Brom

Willock has been scoring regularly at Newcastle

Ainsley Maitland-Niles (left) and Joe Willock (right) have impressed on loan but Arteta insists that arrivals are not dependent on sales

‘I don’t know where the summer will take us,’ he added.

‘I think every situation will be different and hopefully, we are not in that position anymore.’ 

Arsenal have plenty of player situations to resolve, with Sead Kolasinac, Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi set to return from their loan spells and are unlikely to feature in Arteta’s plans next season.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Joe Willock have impressed at West Brom and Newcastle since their January loan moves, while Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette will have just a year left on their deals and could be moved on.

Fans have been protesting against owner Stan Kroenke in recent weeks amid more poor results

Fans have been protesting against owner Stan Kroenke in recent weeks amid more poor results

But Arteta was adamant the Gunners’ plans for incomings do not completely hinge on their success in selling out-of-favour players.

‘I don’t think that is completely like that [needing to sell to buy], but it will restrict and it will alter some plans in relation to what happens with one or two.’

David Luiz – another player who is out of contract in June – is set to miss facing his former club on Wednesday after injuring his in the win at Newcastle at the beginning of the month.

‘Well the situation with David is that he is not yet recovered, we will see how he does in the next few weeks,’ Arteta added.

‘The rest are still in contention but we will have to see today how they come.’