After the club announced a considerable amount of departures thoughts can begin to turn to what Arsenal’s U21 squad will look like next season.
Arsenal now have an extremely small squad at this level, especially when it is taken into consideration that some of those players may require loan spells.
However, it is possible that some younger players could step up from the U18s, while there may also be a need for some new signings.
**U21 squad**
**Goalkeepers** – Nygaard, Rojas
**Defenders** – Nichols, Washington\*, Clarke
**Midfielders** – Dudziak, Rosiak\*\*
**Attackers** – Ferdinand, Kabia, Kamara, Sagoe Jr
\*- Will officially join on July 1st
\*\*- Offered new contract
From this group, the likes of Nichols, Rosiak (if he stays) and Kabia need loan moves. Sagoe Jr, who is now the oldest player in the squad, could be a candidate for a permanent move or a loan. Setford is part of the first-team squad but could play some games for the U21s if he doesn’t go on loan. There have been suggestions that Rojas, who is mainly seen as a training goalkeeper, could be promoted to the first-team squad.
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In addition the following players have been offered professional contracts: Casey, Copley, C. Ismail, Oyetunde, Sweet.
There are also several younger players who have already featured at U21 level: Harriman-Annous, Julienne, Ogunnaike, Onyekachukwu, Porter, Ranson, Salmon, Dowman.
Scholars Chapman and Ibrahim have previously been on the bench at that level and Zecevic John may also be in contention to be involved, while O’Neill has a professional contract. Sampang and Hashi, who could be part of the new scholarship intake, have also been called up previously. Midfielder Murisa could also step up.
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With all of the above taken into consideration, here is what Arsenal’s U21 squad could be like without any new signings.
**Nygaard**
(Ranson\*\*)
**Clarke-Salmon\*\*-Sweet\*-Washington**
(Julienne\*\*-Onyekachukwu\*\*-Chapman\*\*-C. Ismail\*)
**Ibrahim**
**Dudziak-Dowman**\*\*
(Murisa\*\*)
(Casey\*-Copley\*)
**Ferdinand-Harriman Annous\*\*-Kamara**
(Zecevic John\*\*-Oyetunde\*-O’Neill\*\*)
Other options: Rojas, Ogunnaike\*\*, Chapman\*\*, Porter\*\*, Hashi\*\*, Sampang\*\*.
\*- Offered professional contract
\*\* – Still eligible for U18s next season
In terms of the areas where signings are most required, defensive midfield stands out. There could also be a need for another creative midfielder and potentially an extra right-back or centre-back.