On Friday 4th of July, Arsenal officially confirmed the departure of Takehiro Tomiyasu. The club and the player mutually agreed to sever ties following a difficult 12 months for the Japanese international. His deal was terminated simply because of his fitness concerns. The former Bologna man featured only once, a six-minute cameo, in the space of just a year for the Gunners. Injuries plagued him throughout his stay in North London, robbing the club of a truly remarkable 1 v 1 defender. Despite his limited catalogue of appearances, he was a true fan favourite. The news of his departure would have felt deflating for the majority, but the club made the right decision. It was a ruthless decision, but all things considered, it was the right choice nonetheless.
There are a number of players who could follow suit. The squad can do no wrong with more depth, however a few players are approaching the realm of being surplus to requirements. The following two players are strong candidates to have their contracts terminated in my opinion:
Reiss Nelson
After spending last season out on loan, Nelson has returned to the club ahead of pre-season. He spent the entirety of 2024/25 at Fulham, but only featured in the first half of the campaign. His season was cut short at the start of December when he picked up a season-ending injury against Brighton. He had surgery on his hamstring not long after, ruling him out for the rest of the campaign. He is expected to return before the start of the new season, but it probably will not be in the iconic red and white. This is a player the club should look to move on with speed. After spending nearly eight years in and around the Arsenal playing squad, Reiss Nelson has failed to make that breakthrough. He had a few loan spells over the course of that time, but has struggled to nail a starting berth in the Arsenal first team. He is Arsenal through and through, but it just has not worked out for the 25-year-old. With just under a year remaining on his current deal, his time at the club is coming to an end. Therefore, a mutual agreement to leave will benefit all parties.
Albert Sambi Lokonga
Another player returning from a loan spell, Lokonga’s future is currently shrouded in uncertainty. He joined the club in the summer of 2021 and went on to have a fairly impressive debut campaign due to his performances in the first half of the season. However, his progress plateaued considerably in the subsequent campaign. The arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko and a rejuvenated Granit Xhaka contributed immensely to his lack of game time, ultimately leading to a loan move in January of 2023. Successive loan spells have followed, with the latest being with Sevilla. Arsenal are currently thin in central midfield, but even that cannot justify keeping the Belgian international. That said, the arrival of Martin Zubimendi and Christian Nørgaard in addition to Mikel Merino and Declan Rice is enough for the upcoming campaign. Not to mention the ever-impressive Myles Lewis-Skelly who has been tipped for a midfield role down the line. Following the mutual agreement to release Tomiyasu, Albert Sambi Lokonga should be strongly considered to follow suit.
Would love to get your opinions on this duo Gooners!
Benjamin Kenneth
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If Nwaneri leaves because Arsenal are signing Eze and Madueke, we would need Sambi-Lokonga next season
Jesus’ contract should be terminated too, because of his injury problems
They won’t sign both.
Nwaneri wont leave and we won’t be signing either of them.
I’ve read Nwaneri is
Considering his future , free to talk to foreign clubs in January,if true that’s laughable.
Gai, I agree with you absolutely that Jesus contract should be terminated. And I will personally keep Nwaneri and sign Eze than Madueke. Manueke last season was inconsistent like Matinelli. Aresenal search for a young dynamic winger.
Neither Nelson or Lokonga should have their contracts terminated. Both should be sold if we are getting rid of them.
My post is not a reply to anyone, I just cocked up posting just as a comment.
Totaly Agree HD, but for some reason we do not sell players at the right price. Its one of the many thing I cannot get my head around, we should be learning from chelsea as we seem to be their offshore bank account
Who are the players Arsenal haven’t sold at the right price and what should they have been sold for?
What are you suggesting that Arsenal should have learnt from Chelsea? Are you are aware that their practices have led to investigations for potential breaches and they have been fined? Are you suggesting that Arsenal should conduct business in a similar manner?
@david
I did not say anything about breaking FFP rules what I meant was that Chelsea have a regular Income from Arsenal for players they do not want and seam to be sustaining a income from arsenal to achieve FFP, but we do help Chelsea with their FFP by buying and loaning players of them, here are a few
• Kepa 5M
• Raheem sterling
• Jorginho (12m)
• Kai Havetz (55M)
If you honestly believe that we sell players at the correct price then I disagree with you, you might say there are reasons but I say BS. The football club need to not allow players to get to there final year in there contr4act, they are addressing this now but in the past, we have been useless
In regards to players let’s start with
1. Nuno Travers (6.5 M bought for 6.8M Imoa could have got for more )
2. Kieran Tierney (contract run down could have given a 1-year contract and then sold)
3. Cédric Soares (allowed to go for free )
4. Mesut Ozil (Bought 43 M allowed to go for free)
5. Alexandre Lacazette (bought for 40M allowed to go for free
Chelsea
1. Kai harvetz (Bought for 80M sold for 55M
2. Jorginho (bought for 12M)
excusse the last two listed again typo
@David:
Yes.
The fine is negligible.
So, yes.
1. Sell (or Giveaway) Gabriel Jesus
2. Sell Trossard
3. Sell Zinchenko
4. Buy competitions for Martinelli, Saka, Odegaard
5. Buy Gyokeres
Trossard is a good valuable player
Jesus should be on top of the list. He is on huge wages and always injured. No point in keeping him when he is rarely available. Zinchecko, sambi and Reiss need to be sold.
With regard to others having contracts terminated, they are legally binding and cannot be terminated just because a club feels like it. Not getting game time isn’t a reason and such a termination,unless for disciplinary grounds must be mutual. In case of TT sadly he is unsaleable and the termination may suggest his injuries are career ending.
Why is Just Arsenal ignoring the appalling conduct of the club concerning Thomas Partey?
He has now been charged with very serious offences yet the club looked at extending his contract! Senior club officials including executives and sadly Mikel Arteta must have known the charges were likely to be made. Supporters who make pathetic excuses defending them are just as morally culpable and lacking.
The integrity and reputation of the club (and more generally football) has been destroyed. They cannot be restored until all those responsible are held accountable and dealt with appropriately.
So what will you say if he’s found innocent of all the charges then Bill?
Would you then say that all those responsible for finding him guilty before he was even given the chance to defend himself…. like you for instance…. should be held accountable for bringing the player and the club into disrepute and destroying the integrity and reputation of both of them?
For me the solution to the Partey situation would have been an easy one.
High pathetically of course, but if Arsenal had offered him a new contract and he accepted. The club knowing his legal situation, could and would have put in a clause that if Partey was to be found guilty of this despicable act, then his contract would have been terminated instantly. SIMPLES!. 👍
Hoping Jesus returns from injury and puts in a couple of cameo appearances so we can flog him off to Saudi Arabia for a few million quid in the January window
How do you know he was being offered a new contract ?
Equally
If Arsenal came out and said we are not offering him a new contract because he’s about to get charged ( legally couldn’t say that anyways ) and then in 2 months times it turns out the allegations are false then wouldn’t Arsenal morally be wrong for assuming someone is guilty ?
The irony is it’s your integrity that should be questioned as your using a serious issue as a prop to hit Arsenal round the head with when this is not an Arsenal or football issue
It’s people’s life we are talking about
Think the club said they were trying to get him to sign ,either way odd that the CPS charge him days after his contract ran out .
3 years this as been going on ,I thought it was just bullcrap but obviously not .
Problem with cases like these is it’s one against the other ,unless there is some tangible evidence ,but with 3 separate women saying the same thing it’s not a good look .
DK
Quite perplexed on your train of thought regarding your out look on situations like these.
A woman says no and a man ignores then in my mind that’s an offences
Doesn’t matter how far down the road
There is tangible evidence but unfortunately in a world we live in money talks and hence delays can be paid to.make this happen
The CPS haven’t got the.money to make mistakes so that got to be sure they have all there ducks lined up before proceeding.
As for The.club still playing him whilst under investigation. That’s all it was under investigation and charged, so they have a right to play him. Morally it’s not right and he should have been sold but problem is he is worthless and other clubs aren’t stupid. There probably isn’t any club out there wanting to take him now or in the past due to his situation
He changed his religion to weasel out of what he has allegedly committed, hired top lawyers to fend off charges
It spans various countries
You saying not a good look
For who him or the women he has committed the crimes on
We don’t always see eye to eye on afc matters and we give some and take some which is part of the game
And at times surprisingly you.make some valid points but not on this occasion
Lokonga no brainer should have the Sancho way loan him out or leave. Better if Nelson is given a second chance as he comes back from longer rest and his versatility. Enough with Zinchenko. After seeing Ayden at Man Utd I sense he’s better than Kiwior so if Mosquera joins Kiwior should leave.
Kai Harvetz is next
Yes, idiotic if we lose Nwaneri, but sign Madueki and keep Harvetz and Trossard.. Should be renamed Loser Old Boys.
Didn’t think we were able to offer Nwaneri a long term contract until he was 18 which he has only just turned
Unfortunately agents will circle if not.tied down and potentially that looks.like what is happening but I am hopefully he stays and signs
Madueki is a good.player but not a player who is going to elevate us to next level
Saying that we could have done with him when sake was out last season
Maybe that’s the train of thought and have him in at times for sake
We have all said it that sake plays to many and we need to rest at times but we don’t have any one to cover
He.might be the cover