Arsene Wenger is hoping he can buy himself some more time as Arsenal manager, by repeating the same trick he managed last season in winning the FA Cup and securing a top four finish.
The Gunners have their eye on second place in the Premier League after a run of eight straight victories, whilst they will be hoping to retain the FA Cup they won last season at Wembely on May 30.
Next season however, Arsenal fans will demand a serious challenge in either the Premier League or the Champions League – ideally both – and for that, Wenger will need to enter the transfer market in the summer.
As well as incomings, we are expecting some outgoings also, with there still being a fair bit of deadwood lurking around the Emirates.
Here we have identified five players Arsenal can’t wait to get rid of this summer.
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Click on Arsene Wenger to reveal 5 players Arsenal can’t wait to get rid of
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Mikel Arteta
The Spaniard was linked with a move away from the Emirates last summer, with Athletic Bilbao amongst the clubs in Spain reportedly keen to bring him back.
Arteta has been a decent servant to the Gunners, but he looks to be past his best now.
He has struggled to have an impact in that central midfield role over the past couple of seasons – especially in the big matches – and this season has seen him suffer a number of niggling injuries.
It would hardly come as a shock if he were to leave the club in the summer.
Mathieu Flamini
Another ageing midfielder who has struggled to make an impact at the Emirates this season is Mathieu Flamini.
There was a time when the Frenchman was once considered to be one of the best defensive midfielders in the country, but it is fair to say those days have long gone.
Young Francis Coquelin has been fantastic in his position since breaking into the team at the turn of the year, and Wenger looks set to keep the faith with him next season whilst possibly adding another, so Flamini’s day’s at the Emirates appear numbered.
Per Mertesacker
The big German remains popular amongst supporters at the Emirates, but again there is the feeling that his best days could be past him.
There has been a noteable drop in his performance level this season, and Gabriel Paulista looks set to take his first team spot next seaso having been signed from Villarreal in January.
Whilst Mertesacker is another who has served the club well, the majority of Arsenal supporters would take an upgrade if it was offered to them during the summer transfer window.
Carl Jenkinson
Carl Jenkinson is one of the few players that falls into the category of ‘young British talent’ currently on the books at the Emirates.
He has spent the season on loan at West Ham United where he has impressed, but his time out of the side has simply opened the door for Hector Bellerin, who looks set to challenge Mathieu Debuchy for the right back spot next season.
There have been recent reports that suggest Liverpool are ready to bid £10million for Jenkinson in the summer, and for that price any Arsenal fan would surely bite your hand off.
Yaya Sanogo
The French striker might be young, but he has still looked a long way out of his depth every time he has pulled on the shirt for Arsenal.
Still searching for a first Premier League goal, Sanogo has spent the second half of the season on loan at Crystal Palace, where he has been unable to dislodge Glen Murray from the starting line up.
The difference for Arsenal over the first and second half of the season has been obvious, with Sanogo often leading the line during the earlier matches where the Gunners struggled, and Olivier Giroud scoring goals for fun to help Wenger’s side become the form team in the country.
It would come as a suprise if Sanogo was able to turn his Arsenal career around after such a disappointing start.
