Arsenal: Mikel Arteta sells 8 big players to fund these 5 HUGE signings

It’s going to be a busy summer at the Emirates Stadium, that’s one thing that we can say for sure. As Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta plans a busy summer rebuild, which should hopefully fix his squad so they can mount a tighter title challenge next season, there will be sacrifices.

According to The Mirror, there will be eight players sold and five players coming in. Here are the wholesale changes, according to the English outlet.

Arsenal plan to sell EIGHT players

The report claims that brave midfield duo Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka could be two of the more senior players to be axed. We know that Xhaka is the most likely of the two to leave, with Bayer Leverkusen showing interest. However, Partey is also generating interest from “two unnamed clubs in Italy”. Also, Emile Smith Rowe could be sacrificed.

Further departures include Kieran Tierney, Rob Holding and Ainsley Maitland-Niles in the defence. These are hardly surprising, given that Tierney can’t even get into the starting eleven, Holding only can when players are injured and Maitland-Niles has been out on loan.

In attack, it will be Reiss Nelson and Folarin Balogun who will be sold. Well, Nelson will leave on a free as he’s refusing to sign a new contract, but Balogun could be sold for some important cash as he has no part in Arteta’s future despite impressing out on loan.

Mikel Arteta plans to sign FIVE players

The report also states that English midfield duo Declan Rice, who plays as a number 6 and James Maddison, who plays as a number 8, are being targetted by Mikel Arteta. These would be the direct replacements for Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey who might be sold.

Further, there will be a Manchester City raid – Both Ilkay Gundogan and Joao Cancelo are of interest to Mikel Arteta. Keeping within the Premier League, Crystal Palace centre back Marc Guehi would provide strong cover for William Saliba and add to the youth in defence.

What do you make of Mikel Arteta’s summer rebuild at Arsenal?