Arsenal is heading towards a volatile summer as coach Mikel Arteta continues to upgrade the squad to serve his ambition to compete for major titles next season.
After deals like Viktor Gyokeres or Eberechi Eze last summer, the "Gunners" are said to continue to spend heavily in the transfer market. However, that means many current players are at risk of losing their place at Emirates.
When the season is only a few rounds left, some names may have played their last match for Arsenal.
Christian Norgaard is a noteworthy case. This experienced midfielder arrived at Emirates to add depth to the midfield but was almost not valued by Arteta. His six Premier League appearances all came from the bench, while Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi almost exclusively occupied the starting spot. Even when Mikel Merino was injured, Arteta still prioritized using Myles Lewis-Skelly instead of Norgaard.
Ethan Nwaneri also faces an uncertain future. The young English talent joined Marseille on loan in January to seek more playing opportunities. Despite an impressive start in Ligue 1, the change on the coaching bench has affected Nwaneri's development process. If he is not guaranteed a clear role next season, the 19-year-old player can completely continue to look for a new destination.
Meanwhile, Fabio Vieira has almost no future at Emirates. The Portuguese midfielder has not played for Arsenal since April 2024 and is currently playing for Hamburg on loan. The German team has a buyout clause worth about 17.3 million pounds and is likely to be activated this summer.
Jakub Kiwior is also preparing to leave Arsenal after a successful loan spell at Porto. The Polish center-back quickly became a pillar and contributed to helping Porto win the Primeira Liga. Arsenal are said to be ready to sell the 26-year-old defender outright.
Another name is Reiss Nelson. The player who grew up from the Hale End academy has been continuously loaned out in recent seasons but has not been able to make a breakthrough. The injury has left him with only 13 appearances for Brentford this season and his future at Arsenal is increasingly bleak.
In addition to the names mentioned above, The Gunners may also consider liquidating some players outside the plan to reduce the salary fund. Arteta is aiming to build a streamlined squad but with enough depth to compete in many arenas at the same time. This is especially important in the context that Arsenal is increasingly setting high goals in the Champions League, besides the Premier League title race.
The appearance of many young talents from the academy such as Lewis-Skelly or major signings in recent times also increases the pressure to compete for positions. Players who cannot adapt or do not meet Arteta's tactical requirements are almost unlikely to have a chance to stay long.
Arteta is possessing a much more quality and deep squad than a few years ago. However, for Arsenal to truly maintain their position as a championship contender in the Premier League and Champions League, a force purge this summer is almost inevitable.
