Teams do not always wait until they sell players before strengthening their squad, and this often results in some stars losing their place once new teammates arrive.
Arsenal has been active in the transfer market and is expected to have several new additions to the squad by the time the window closes. As a result, the following players may lose their first-team roles:
Leandro Trossard
Arsenal is in the market for a new winger and has been linked with moves for Rodrygo and Noni Madueke. Should either of these players join the club, Trossard could find it increasingly difficult to retain his place in the starting line-up.
Kai Havertz
Havertz had begun to establish himself in the number nine position at Arsenal, but the arrival of Viktor Gyokeres is likely to displace him unless the new striker struggles to settle or perform.
Ethan Nwaneri
Nwaneri has yet to sign a new contract amid concerns over playing time, and these concerns appear justified. Should Arsenal sign another winger, Nwaneri would no longer be viewed as an alternative to Bukayo Saka.

Fabio Vieira
The most sensible move for Vieira would be to seek opportunities elsewhere. He now finds himself at the bottom of the midfield hierarchy, far removed from the key positions in the squad.
Mikel Merino
It is uncertain whether Merino can still produce high-level performances in midfield, but even if he can, breaking into the team will prove difficult. He is unlikely to displace any of the current midfield starters and certainly cannot compete for a forward position alongside someone like Gyokeres.
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Do you lot just put up articles for the sake of it. You complained about lack of squad depth last season and now you are saying players will struggle for playing time.
Well I feel you. It’s like we have a problem but here’s another problem if we fix the earlier problem. Someone in another article even claimed that our squad depth is robust to begin with
With proper rotation they will all have minutes in some of the league games and the domestic cup games too.
Arteta needs to work on his player rotations skills.
I guess Trossard is preparing himself to leave, because he just changed his agent
Havertz would likely stay because of his huge salary and compete with Gyokeres/ Rice/ Odegaard/ Merino
If Nwaneri doesn’t want to be loaned out, he should be sold because he was highly inconsistent last season
Vieira would likely not able to compete with Rice, Odegaard and Merino, so he must be sold too
Well said Gai👍
I think Havertz would have a good playing time as a second striker. Arteta is loyal to players he likes and also Havertz is a forward player different from Gyokeres. Imo SportingCp is playing “hard to get ball with Arsenal” a different CF may end up coming to Emirate. Nothing seem too certain.
It would be wise for Nwaneri to go on loan. He can also take his chance in other clubs, with new comers his playing opportunity would be limited at Arsenal next season
I’d be surprised if Nwaneri is willing to go on a loan, because of Chelsea’s interest
Trossard, the real estate agent stopped due to health problems. I’m from Belgium.
It looks like Trossard could be leaving and, possibly, Vieira, but I don’t see any of the other names listed in the article going.
Personally, I’d like to see the club encourage Jesus to look elsewhere thereby freeing up a place and saving Arsenal a fortune in wages at the same time. I admit it’s highly unlikely to happen, but there’s always hope.
If Arteta buys Noni Madueke he should be sacked before he does more damage. 50 mill for the journeyman Madueke, instead of Rodrygo. We cannot win no the league whilst Arteta is delusional.
Rodrygo would be a good option to compete with Martinelli. His range of skills and performances mean he would be a consideration for any top level team.
A lot of people seem to think that he would be a shoe-in for the left side of our attack. I am not as convinced as Martinelli’s all round game and PL experience may give him an advantage. In addition, the expectations for Rodrygo would be extremely high which could be a significant burden. If Arsenal get Rodrygo it would raise questions about the futures of both Martinelli and Trossard as one may have to leave.
Madueke is an intriguing option as he too can play on either wing but is more likely to be a back up for Saka at the current time. He is probably not at the level of the other players under consideration but he has some strengths and provides an alternative approach to games. He is fast, direct and a good dribbler. He is young, works hard for the team and is keen to keep improving. His overall stats aren’t mind blowing but are good for a PL player at a top club. The overall costs would probably be substantially lower than that of some of the other options as his salary would be well within Arsenal’s structure.
Looking at things from footballing and financial perspectives Madueke would actually be a solid signing, though Rodrygo would be starting with a higher profile.
Havertz is certainly interesting.
He can offer a plan b…. but a player on 280k a week as a bench option ?
Viera, trossard – should be moved on.
Merino will get game time as he had a good relationship at sociedad
Also what we saw merino do this season – he did what havertz did but better as him holding the ball up, bringing players in from midfield, the left and right side. Where as havertz pretty much alienates the left.
Nwaneri needs to be kept and given game time … this whole thing about him not getting enough game time last season… its created by journalists who are bored during the holidays. First skelly now nwaneri
If Havertz is played as a second striker behind Gyokeres our attack has the potential to be lethal.
HH that means a change of formation and sacrifice one winger the accommodate Harvertz and we know Arteta doesn’t do that, but if he does change is formation then a 4321 or a 3421 will be the formation to allow Havertz be the second striker
Raya
Timber Saliba Gabriel Calafiuri
Odegaard Zubimendi Declan Rice
Saka Harvertz
Gyokeres
If he signs in
We could play Rice and Zumbendi as a double pivot which would allow Havertz a free role at ten. For me Kai has more to offer than Odegaard!!
Naftali you are spot with your analysis. The change of formation is inevitable.
The midfield problem can easily be solved by rotation since we are playing in the league and the champions league every week.
If Arteta will keep on not rotating it doesn’t matter what quality we have since the ones played will be tired and injured in the end and those not played will be too rusty for immediate impact.
No Lewis-Skelly?? I’m not fussed about Gyokeres.
all the nonsense is telling me No! No! His prior history in England doesn’t do him any favours and many of his goals in Portugal were from penalties. I still favour Ollie Watkins whilst keeping an eye on future potential. I have a feeling Nwaneri over values himself especially as his 18 year old friend Lewis -Skelly is doing so well.
No one will struggle to play once the gaffer man management improves
Easier said than done. Problem is he’s too risk adverse to even try to improve his man management.
Just hope he can do 2 things that will help himself and the club:
1) 60 minute subs when we have a 2 goal lead
2) Give more youngsters a chance in games that don’t matter like when we already qualified or have a 6 goal lead after the first leg
If he’s not even willing to do that, then rotation is a pipe dream
No Lewis-Skelly?? I’m not fussed about Gyokeres.
all the nonsense is telling me No! No! His prior history in England doesn’t do him any favours and many of his goals in Portugal were from penalties. I still favour Ollie Watkins whilst keeping an eye on future potential. I have a feeling Nwaneri over values himself especially as his 18 year old friend Lewis -Skelly is doing so well.