Arsenal stars Emile Smith Rowe, Kieran Tierney, Rob Holding and Folarin Balogun have all been linked with exits – with two more players put up for sale, according to reports
(Image credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal have reportedly made decisions on which players to sell this summer, as they look to strengthen a league-leading squad.
Mikel Arteta has stuck with the same core of players throughout the season, leading to rumours that some big names could leave for more game-time next term. Kieran Tierney at left-back is one that has had to wait patiently for his turn, Rob Holding has slipped down the pecking order, while Emile Smith Rowe has had to contend with injuries.
Hale End graduate Folarin Balogun, meanwhile, has been out on loan at Reims, scoring goals a-plenty – and giving Arteta a headache of how to integrate him into an attack which is already stacked with talent.
Folarin Balogun is just one Arsenal star linked with a move away (Image credit: Getty Images)
According to Football Transfers, however, Arteta wants all four to remain at the Emirates Stadium.
Holding in particular has been praised for his leadership behind first-choice pairing Gabriel and William Saliba at the back, recently stepping into defence in the latter's absence. Tierney, too, is a big presence behind the scenes – and offers a very different profile at left-back to Oleksandr Zinchenko. This could be invaluable as the Gunners look to evolve with Champions League football.
Smith Rowe and Balogun could well be introduced into the attack next season as Arteta looks to refresh his pack – with decisions having been made on two players who will actually be up for sale.
The report states that only Portuguese pair Cedric Soares and Nuno Tavares will be sacrificed. The two full-backs are currently out on loan.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Nuno Tavares and Cedric may well leave Arsenal this season (Image credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
While Premier League teams have shown interest in Tierney, there are fewer links with Arsenal's other forgotten first-teamers. Smith Rowe and Balogun have come through the academy and have a personal connection to the club, while Holding – a £2 million signing from Bolton in 2016 – is well-loved by fans.
The Gunners face Liverpool in the Premier League this weekend.
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
