Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is making the finishing touches to his squad, basically giving the go-ahead to five more deals to be made before the season starts
(Image credit: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal look ready to confirm five more transfers before the season begins next week, as they prepare their squad for another title challenge.
The Gunners play Treble winners Manchester City in the traditional curtain opener this weekend, with their final preseason friendly coming tonight against Monaco in the Emirates Cup. Arsene Wenger will be a guest of honour, with a statue of the Frenchman recently unveiled outside the Emirates Stadium.
But though Arsenal conducted their incomings early and were able to take all three marquee summer signings Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber on their preseason tour of the United States, there is still business to be done in the closing weeks of the transfer window.
Arsenal have had a busy preseason (Image credit: Getty Images)
As football.london points out, the north Londoners are set to add Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli to their Premier League squad as stars now registered as senior players, on top of the three new signings.
Arteta has 21 overseas stars and 12 homegrown talents eligible for registration. The Basque boss needs to trim his squad by eight in order to meet the 25-man threshold – but can only get rid of four homegrown players in order to meet the requirements.
As the report points out, however, there five youth stars – James Hillson, Omar Rekik, Ryan Alebiosu, Tim Akinola and Tyreece John-Jules – who have now turned 21 and will have to either go out on loan, be sold or be released. The squad necessities mean that all five have essentially had their futures decided for them.
John-Jules has been out on loan a number of times already, while Tunisia international Omar Rekik was extremely highly-rated when he broke through and went on loan to Wigan Athletic last season.
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Omar Rekik is one of several Arsenal stars facing an exit (Image credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal are believed to be looking to offload many other players before the transfer deadline with Folarin Balogun being the major sale.
The Gunners take on Nottingham Forest in their first game of the season on August 12.
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Arsenal transfer news is ramping up this summer, with the Gunners spending £200m early in the window.
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.
