Gunners boss claims younger blood in midfield is needed.
Check in to Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has hinted that veteran midfielder Mikel Arteta may be on his way out of the club this summer by claiming that new blood is needed after he reached a ‘difficult age’, according to Inside Futbol.
Read More Arsenal FC News
Wenger swooped to snap up the Spanish midfielder in 2011, raiding Everton to secure Arteta’s services for a fee of around £10m.
However, Arteta is now 32 years of age, and Wenger has admitted that he can foresee a big decision to be made in terms of the personnel that he continues to place into his engine room.
The wily tactician has hinted that a changing of the guard may be in order this summer, despite conceding that Arteta had a few more years left in him at the top level.
“I like Mikel Arteta because of his quality, his focus, his commitment and his ‘winner’ attitude. I have big respect for what he has achieved this season,” he said.
“He is at that difficult age, but he is very conscientious, very professional and he has a couple of years left, yes.”
Arteta has never won a cap for the Spanish national side, which at his age now looks unlikely, though his absence from international football could actually extend his club career.
Watch the top 10 best Arsenal goals of all time.
Check out the 10 worst Arsenal flops of the Premier League era.