Photo from Freepik
Morning all.
Arsenal Football Club announced who is leaving this summer and it’s a long list although mostly made up of academy players. Just in case you missed it, here is that list in alphabetical order.
Nathan Butler-Oyedeji
Reece Clairmont
Khayon Edwards
Jakai Fisher
Romari Forde
Teyah Goldie
Jimi Gower
Jack Henry-Francis
Lina Hurtig
Amanda Ilestedt
Jorginho
Max Kuczynski
Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand
Ismail Oulad M’Hand
Neto
Brian Okonkwo
Elian Quesada-Thorn
Zacariah Shuaib
Raheem Sterling
Kieran Tierney
In addition, the following players’ contracts also expire on June 30, 2025. Discussions are ongoing, and once matters are finalised between all parties, we will communicate in due course.
Chloe Kelly
Thomas Partey
Michal Rosiak
I hope Chloe Kelly agrees to stay and I think she will, especially after her comments about how being back at Arsenal has brought her love for the game back. Not only that, she has been playing really well.
We all know about Thomas Partey and what he brings to the team but whether he ‘should’ stay or go probably brings a mixed opinion amongst the fan base.
Michal Rosiak is an interesting one though. I know nothing about the player other than what I have read on Jeorge Bird’s website:
The Poland youth international, 19, was one of Arsenal’s standout performers at U21 level last season and also received his first competitive call up to the senior squad as he was named on the bench against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
A free-kick specialist who can play at right-back or in midfield, Rosiak frequently trained with the first-team squad towards the end of last season.
I know the jump from under 21’s to the first team is huge but Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff must have seen something good in Rosiak otherwise Arsenal wouldn’t be trying to keep him. He’s been at Arsenal since his family moved to England in when he was 11. One to watch perhaps.
This time of year is always kind of sad, as far as Arsenal goes I mean because when I see the long list of academy players who leave for free I wonder why they didn’t make it. So many go from training with the first team, being in the squad on a match day to being on the bench and then gone. For nothing, not a penny. I always hope their future in the game is bright whilst secretly hoping they don’t pop up against us in a Barcelona shirt or similar in the future.
There’s an article in The Athletic this morning which I think is very good. Within it is the below photo detailing our squad and players contract situation.
As it stands and not including Nwaneri or Lewis-Skelly, we have a three players going into their final year of contract, Zinchenko, Tomiyasu and Lokonga. Two are sellable but poor old Tomiyasu is still injured. As is Gabriel Jesus so selling either probably isn’t an option.
In any case, the more we sell this summer, the more we need to sign. After all, our small squad from last season is already smaller with the departures of Jorginho, Tierney, Neto and Sterling.
Catch up in the comments.