From Kieran Tierney to Emile Smith Rowe: Players who could leave Arsenal in the summer transfer window

Should Smith Rowe leave this summer, it would be a move that would hugely divide opinion. The Hale End graduate may have barely featured this season, but he remains a massively popular with the fanbase.

It’s clear, though, that he’s way down the pecking order under Arteta at present, and with Arsenal expected to bring in more than one midfield addition this summer, Smith Rowe could be deemed as expendable, should a decent offer arrive.

Arsenal have held talks over signing Mason Mount, a player very similar to Smith Rowe in terms of where he plays, which again does not bode well in terms of the 22-year-old’s long-term future.

The Gunners firmly rejected multiple bids from Aston Villa for Smith Rowe two years ago, insisting he was not for sale. It remains to be seen whether their stance would be different this time around if some big offers arrive.

It would be strange if Xhaka left this summer, but there is expected to be interest in the Switzerland international when the season comes to an end. And with Arsenal looking at the likes of Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo, there is a possibility they could be open to letting Xhaka leave to free up space and bring some money in.

Arteta remains a big fan of Xhaka and he has been hugely influential this season, taking his game to a new level in a more advanced midfield role. But should the 30-year-old push to leave this summer and return to Germany, Arsenal’s manager might not stand in his way.

Arsenal’s young midfielder is set to leave following talks with the club. It has been agreed that the academy graduate can move to seek regular first-team football following his impressive loan spell at Blackpool.

There is already strong interest in the 19-year-old, both from clubs in England and abroad. Arsenal and Patino’s representatives will now work together to find the best move for the teenager, with the Gunners expected to include several clauses in any deal they agree.

Ideally, Arsenal would like to keep Tierney ahead of the club’s return to the Champions League. But the Scotland international has lost his place in the starting XI this season to Oleksandr Zinchenko and is expected to push for a move.

Newcastle and Aston Villa are believed to be interested and could make some big bids for the left-back once the season comes to an end.

Arsenal do need to bring in some money this summer and Tierney is a very saleable asset, so it could be that the former Celtic man will be allowed to leave, bringing to an end his four-year stay in north London.

It doesn’t feel like Tavares has a long-term future at Arsenal. His loan spell at Marseille started very well, but has fizzled out a bit as the season has gone.

It doesn’t seem like the Ligue 1 club will push to make the move permanent in the summer, which will leave Arsenal with a decision over what to do with the left-back ahead of next season.

With Tierney perhaps leaving, Tavares could be an option as back-up to Zinchenko next season. But whether Arteta would trust the young Portuguese defender enough to use him remains to be seen.

Like Tavares, it’s difficult to see a long-term future for Lokonga at Arsenal. With big summer additions set to arrive in midfield, the Belgium international’s pathway towards the first-team looks blocked.

He was barely playing before he went on loan to Crystal Palace and it looks like he will find things even more difficult when he returns from Selhurst Park, so a move looks like a good option. 

Whether Arsenal can find a buyer for the 23-year-old, who they signed from Anderlecht for £18 million ($23m) two years ago, is another thing, however.

Nelson’s contract will expire this summer and he has yet to agree a new deal, despite talks having been ongoing for some time. Several clubs are believed to be interested in the winger, including Brighton, and are hopeful of luring him away on a free transfer.

Arsenal do want him to stay and have offered fresh terms, but they will not break the bank to keep the 23-year-old, raising the possibility that he could go in search of more regular football elsewhere.

Arsenal have a big decision to make this summer when it comes to Balogun. He has had an exceptional season on loan at Reims in France and has grown used to starting every single game. He will not get that opportunity should he stay at Arsenal next season, so is expected to push for a move amid widespread interest.

And with his value having rocketed due to his performances with Reims, it could be that Arsenal decide to cash in on the 21-year-old forward.

The Portugal international has spent the second half of the season on loan at Fulham and is expected to leave this summer.

Soares will still have one year remaining on his contract and finding a club to take on his wages might be difficult, but he will be looking for a permanent exit to find first-team football elsewhere, and Arsenal will not stand in his way.

Mari’s permanent move to Monza in Italy has already been finalised. As part of the loan deal which took Mari to Italy last summer, a clause was agreed which would see the Serie A club make the move permanent should they avoid relegation.

They have already done that, so Mari will stay put, with Arsenal receiving around £6m ($7.5m) for the centre-back.

Maitland-Niles has already confirmed he will be leaving Arsenal this summer. The midfielder, who is currently on loan at Southampton, is now into the final months of his contract and will not be getting a new deal. So he will be leaving on a free transfer once the season comes to an end.

Trusty has enjoyed a fine debut season in England, impressing massively while on loan at Birmingham City in the Championship. The centre-back has just been named the Blues’ Player of the Season, and will have attracted lots of admirers with his performances.

Arsenal will hold talks with Trusty this summer to decide what the next step is for the defender, who has just forced his way into the United States men's national team picture.

Whether they cash in on him now, or opt to send him out on loan again remains to be seen. But it’s highly doubtful he remains in north London next season to be a part of Arteta’s senior squad.

Arsenal’s club-record signing, who has spent the past season on loan with Nice, now has just one year left on his deal. It’s clear he has no future at Arsenal, so the club will be looking to move Pepe on permanently this summer.

Finding a buyer will be extremely difficult, however, given his high wages, so it will not be an easy situation to resolve.

Could this be the summer that Holding finally moves on from Arsenal? The defender is well liked at the club and Arteta values his leadership highly, but having come into the side for the injured William Saliba towards the end of the season, Holding’s performances highlighted the centre-back's clear inefficiencies.

Holding has now lost his place to Jakub Kiwior, and with another centre-back expected to arrive this summer, Holding could be moved on as part of the ongoing squad building process at Arsenal.