Arsenal are thinking about their path in the second half of the 2025/26 season. The Gunners face tough decisions about the respective futures of forwards Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard. Both are in uncertainty regarding their futures and potential moves in January. The Gunners are poising to make a slow but strategic evolution of their squad.
Gabriel Jesus: Exit Talks Gain Momentum
Gabriel Jesus’ time at Arsenal is becoming complicated by continual injury troubles. He has only appeared in 70 matches in three years. His latest anterior cruciate ligament injury in early 2025 had him out for nine months. He now plays less of a role in Mikel Arteta‘s plans. The signing of Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon and Madueke moving from Chelsea, Jesus drops down the orders of attacking options. Reports from Brazil state that Jesus has accepted a “proposal” from Flamengo. The talks are underway about a deal structured as a loan in which both clubs would pay Jesus’ £265,000-a-week wages. This would help Arsenal rehabilitate his value for a future transfer since Jesus. Moreover, his agent will be thinking of cashing in, as his contract with Arsenal sustains until 2027.
Leandro Trossard: Contract Security vs. Speculation
In contrast, Leandro Trossard’s situation is nuanced. The Belgian’s relationship with Arsenal began officially in August 2022. He signed a revised contract with Arsenal which kept him on the same terms until 2027. But the club would not have an extension. Manager Mikel Arteta seems to see Trossard as a highly functional and versatile attacking player, considering he can cover both on the wing and through the middle. However, there are still supporters who wonder what is the rationale behind retaining a 31-year-old player when a younger (and perhaps fresher) entry would really bolster the young squad existing at Arsenal. While a sale cannot be entirely ruled out if a substantial offer arrives, Arsenal’s current stance is to retain his experience for their trophy pursuit.
🚨🔴⚪️ Arsenal are not planning for Leandro Trossard exit despite links with Besiktas move in the recent days.
Trossard already agreed new deal at the club in August and move to Turkish Super Lig has no chance of happening now. pic.twitter.com/i06hDRaVtS
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 6, 2025
Strategic Implications for Arsenal
Any other potential sales of Arsenal’s squad members in January would be have implications for the club’s overall plan to cut the squad down, create balanced opportunities and settled wages in the squad. Selling Jesus, first of all, would dry up some level of salary costs in the squad, and would provide some funds for further manoeuvring; finally, keeping Trossard just emphasises the need for depth in a long and sometimes grueling season. Arsenal’s recruitment team, led by sporting director Andrea Berta, need to balance short-term gain and longer-term vision, but as Arteta stated on deadline day, a good window is at least one closing “super happy” whether it is from new players, or you send players and build the club’s future.