Gunners stalwarts set for departure at the end of the season…
Read more Arsenal news here!
Arsenal have a genuine and realistic chance of missing out on the top four for the first time in Premier League history.
The early season good form and positivity has well and truly evaporated into thin air, and now Arsene Wenger’s injury plagued squad face a battle with Everton to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
As a result, there’s almost certain to be a transfer overhaul in the summer, and here’s five stars we reckon will be leaving the North London club.
5) Bacary Sagna
Despite the club’s continual efforts, the excellent French right-back will likely leave Arsenal at the end of the season when his contract expires. Sagna has been at the club since 2007, and has made over 200 league appearances under Wenger. At 31-years-old though, he wants an incredibly lucrative deal that Arsenal are not prepared to pay him. They’ll have some trouble bringing in a suitable replacement, however.
4) Thomas Vermaelen
Vermaelen’s Arsenal career has ground to an unfortunate halt. Still the club captain, Vermaelen enjoyed a wonderful debut season in 2009/10, where he established a reputation as one of the top flight’s finest central defenders. Since then though, injuries and low confidence have halted his career, and he’s been very much the third choice centre-half this term behind Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny. As a result, he’ll likely leave to play regular first-team football.
3) Lukas Fabianski
Fabianski has actually been superb this season for Arsenal in both the FA Cup, and in place of Wojciech Szczesny in the Champions League when the first-choice Pole was suspended. However, like Sagna, he has decided to not extend his contract beyond the end of this season. Arsenal will need to sign another reserve stopper as a result.
2) Nicklas Bendtner
The Danish forward would probably like to stay at the Emirates, but Arsenal have no intention of extending his contract. He’s nowhere near the required standard, and has had serious problems off the pitch and with his weight in recent seasons. We can’t imagine too many Premier League sides will be willing to meet his absurd contract demands either.
1) Mikel Arteta
This biggest surprise on this list, Arteta’s immobility this season has cost his side badly. He put in shocking performances during drubbings handed out by Liverpool, Chelsea and Everton. At 32-years-old, Arteta is unlikely to reach his reach previous heights, and Arsene Wenger will no doubt be keen on bringing in a younger, more dynamic holding midfielder.
