Arsenal set to lose 3 players for free with decisions made | OneFootball

Cedric Soares, Mohamed Elneny, and Arthur Okonkwo are all set to leave Arsenal on the expiry of their contracts this summer, according to a report.

PSV Eindhoven’s Ismael Saibari (R) and Arsenal’s Cedric fight for the ball during a UEFA Champions League group B football match between PSV Eindhoven and Arsenal FC at the Philips Stadium in Eindhoven, on December 12, 2023. (Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images)

With Jorginho recently signing a contract extension to 2025, Arsenal’s list of players with deals up this summer has grown shorter, but Cedric Soares, Mohamed Elneny, and Arthur Okonkwo are all still currently set to end their deals on June 30th.

According to the Mirror’s Ryan Taylor, the trio will leave the club on that date, with no apparent plans to extend.

Neither Cedric nor Elneny have had a particularly significant role this season, playing 124 and 95 minutes in all competitions respectively.

With both players now in their thirties and clearly not central to Mikel Arteta’s plans, it’s probably a good time to move on.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Mohamed Elneny and Jakub Kiwior of Arsenal celebrate the team’s victory at full-time following the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Sheffield United at Emirates Stadium on October 28, 2023. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Both Cedric and Elneny saw Arsenal make signings in their positions last year, with Jurrien Timber, Jorginho, and Declan Rice all joining the club. Even Timber’s ACL injury wasn’t enough to earn Cedric more than a handful of games.

As for Okonkwo, the Arsenal loanee has done very well with Wrexham, playing 40 times in all competitions and keeping 16 clean sheets whilst helping them to promotion to League One.

Perhaps the 22-year-old will stick around with Wrexham next season, and it would be a shame to lose him for nothing.

Arthur Okonkwo with Wrexham AFC (Photo via Wrexham on Twitter)

In terms of other players with short contracts, David Raya should make his loan move permanent this summer, whilst goalkeeper Karl Hein is out of contract as well.

Unlike Okonkwo, there’s no suggestion that Hein’s mind is made up to leave just yet. But with no first-team minutes this season, he must be considering it.