Big money striker coming in? Who Arsenal should keep, sell and sign this summer | OneFootball

Arsenal missed out on the Premier League title for the second consecutive season after finishing second behind Manchester City.

Mikel Arteta’s side narrowly missed out on their first Premier League title in 20 years by just two points despite a season which saw the club break numerous records.

The club must now focus on strengthening and refining their squad ahead of yet another busy campaign, which will see the Gunners enter the expanded Champions League. Numerous players are set to leave the club with some futures up in the air, and most of the key players have been signed up to long-term deals.

Here are players we think Arsenal should keep, let go, and who we think they should go after this summer…

KEEP: David Raya, Jurrien Timber, Ben White, Gabriel, William Saliba, Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Jorginho, Kai Havertz, Ethan Nwaneri, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Fabio Vieira, Leandro Trossard, Reiss Nelson.

Changes are needed at Arsenal but not drastic ones. The growth of some of the squad under Mikel Arteta’s tutelage has been brilliant, and ensuring the hub of their stars remain must be a high priority.

Most of the Gunners squad should remain at the club come the end of the summer transfer window, having got their business of signing their biggest stars to long-term deals out of the way early on. Bringing through some of the exciting youngsters such as Ethan Nwaneri should also be high priority as they look to get more exposure this coming season, and David Raya will very likely join the club permanently after a successful loan spell.

SELL: Aaron Ramsdale, Thomas Partey, Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Jesus, Cedric Soares, Mohamed Elneny.

If Arsenal are to get the ball rolling with yet another summer of big spending to catch Manchester City, then the club need to sanction plenty of deals for out of favour and fringe stars with decent transfer fees to ensure they balance out their spending.

Cedric Soares and Mohamed Elneny’s contracts both expire at the end of the current season, so they will garner no fee but will free up space on the wage bill. The pair have been excellent long-term servants to the club, Elneny especially, and will now look to pastures new.

Aaron Ramsdale looks destined to depart north London this summer after losing his place to David Raya in September, with the England goalkeeper having only featured four times since Raya replaced him in the side. Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah have struggled for game time this campaign, especially in the second half of the season. Smith Rowe has had another difficult season after suffering numerous injury setbacks, and despite impressive in his late cameos, has not done enough to win Arteta’s trust for a starting berth.

Whilst neither should exit the Emirates this summer, both Gabriel Jesus and Thomas Partey appear to be the most likely big stars to depart the north Londoners. The pair have both suffered long-term injuries this season and their increasing lack of availability will be a point of concern for Arteta and the Arsenal hierarchy.

SUMMER TARGETS: Benjamin Sesko, Alexander Isak, Pedro Neto, Jorrel Hato, Martin Zubimendi, Bruno Guimaraes.

Despite Kai Havertz performing extremely well as a number nine after his switch from midfield midway through the campaign, Arsenal require a top level striker if they are to further challenge City. Young RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko has all the attributes of a top level striker, but is not the finished article yet, with Newcastle attacker Alexander Isak the more sensible but more expensive choice.

It will difficult to prize Pedro Neto out of Wolves, with the club wanting big money for their Portuguese star after an injury hit but productive campaign for Gary O’Neil’s men. The Gunners have been linked to Neto in the past, and should look for a suitable understudy to fill in for Bukayo Saka if not push the England forward to greater heights. 18-year-old defender Jorrel Hato has had a metoric rise in a season which has seen Ajax struggle to a poor fifth place finish. Hato is a highly regarded Dutchman who has already been capped at senior level, and although he has just signed a new contract at the club, it would not take an insane fee to sanction a deal.

If Partey does depart, a new midfielder to partner Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard will be required to fill the void left by the Ghanaian. Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes and Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi are rumoured to be the Gunners’ first choice midfield signings this summer. Guimaraes is looking like he will cost any potential suitors upwards of £100m whilst Spaniard Zubimendi will cost almost half of what the Magpies are wanting for their Brazilian maestro. Both equally athletic and supreme on the ball, either player would be a welcome addition to the Gunners midfield.