As the end of the season approaches, Arsenal are expected to refresh their squad by welcoming new arrivals, but several current players are also likely to depart. The Gunners possess a large group of players, and some individuals have struggled to make a lasting impact or secure a regular place in the team.
Those expected to leave include individuals whose contracts are expiring or who have simply not made the most of their opportunities in the squad. Despite that, a few have shown promise in recent matches and could arguably make a strong case to remain part of the team for another campaign.
Thomas Partey
It comes as a surprise that Arsenal have not reconsidered the future of Thomas Partey, who has delivered impressive performances this season. After struggling with injuries for much of his time at the club, the midfielder appears to have put those issues behind him and has been a key performer in the current campaign.
Partey’s ability to dictate the tempo of games and provide defensive stability in midfield has stood out. With the scarcity of quality defensive midfielders available on the market, Arsenal would need to spend significantly to replace him with someone of similar calibre. Given his recent displays and regained fitness, a contract extension may be worth considering.
Kieran Tierney
Tierney is widely expected to return to Celtic at the end of the season, a move that has become something of an open secret. However, despite limited playing time, the Scottish international has impressed during his recent appearances. His professionalism and consistent performances raise the question of whether he might still have a role to play at Arsenal, particularly in a squad that values depth and versatility.
Jakub Kiwior
Kiwior has once again proven his reliability by stepping into the starting line-up in the absence of Gabriel Magalhaes. His contributions at the back have mirrored his form towards the end of last season, underlining his potential to grow within the squad. While his departure has seemed likely, his recent performances suggest he could provide valuable cover and development if retained for another term.
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Kiwior has proven me wrong.
I thought he would get exposed against Madrid (he looked a bit shaky in the first half of the first leg, but he shook that off)..
He’s shown he has the ability to play against world class opposition, and these games against Madrid will do him a world of good for his confidence.
As a deputy, I never knew he could step up like he did. We shouldn’t let him go given he’s not even a starter.
One thing is certain, If he’s to leave, he will surely be going to another Champions League club…maybe one of the Serie A juggernauts
Keep Kiwior !
Always needed a run of games to gain confidence but been class recently.
Not sure what has happened behind the scenes with Partey.
Not sure that Tierney will be in the plans and with MLS doing so well, Calafiori might find game time diminished.
Kiwior has really surprised me as well and I hope that he remains and is used rotationally.
There are other names that will most likely leave. Can’t see Sterling being made permanent and what will the future of Reiss Nelson and VIeira be? Tavares is not a definite return and Sambi is on loan.
Arsenal and Partey’s suitors must’ve been waiting for the final verdict of his legal case, which is supposed to be determined in the summer. If he’s found not guilty, he’d likely have a plethora of good offers because of his consistency in the CDM position
Arsenal could also be tempted to keep Kiwior due to Calafiori’s injury history, but they might cash him out if there’s a very good offer
I think Nelson will get shipped out because of his injuries, but I can’t wait to see Arsenal’s plan for Vieira after his performance in Portugal
I suspect you’re right re Partey. I hadn’t followed the developments until I had a look after I read your post.
It seems he’s also got legal issues with Atletico claiming that when he joined Arsenal he violated his contract… or something. Not sure how much of that is real and how much of it is a Spanish club trying to prevent a repeat of that scenario where another club just walks into the Spanish authorities and buys out their player without them having any say in it.
If the Atletico Madrid are suing Partey, he’s been playing with two heavy legal cases over his head
Yet he could still produce world-class performances despite the legal threats
That kind of player must be retained if he wins at the court
The fact Premiership supporters know about Thomas legal woes and often booing him, might be another reason he’d prefer a move and fresh start.
I hate to say it, but will Ricky ever stay fit for long before the next niggle? I would rather keep Jakob and let Ricky go. Zin will go, he needs game time. Players are not bonded slaves, if Jakob says he wants to go for more game time, we should let him go for that reason. It shouldn’t be dependent on if Hato comes or not. As Hato likely better than Jakob at left back, he would cover left back and Big Gabby, so more chance to get the more game time back ups need.
Viera had a quiet start to his loan, better, at times only recently. That leagues a different kettle of fish to Prem, he can’t come back.
Sometimes it takes time to settle in. Merino has turned out a great signing already, two assists away at Franco’s team last night. Merino arguably the Viera replacement.
I highly doubt Calafiori will stay fit throughout next season, because he also got a long-term injury in Italy
I believe Arsenal’s medical staffs will doubt his fitness as well
@Gai sometimes I wonder why Arsenal bought Calafiori considering his injury history in Italy and Epl more physical Yes he is a good versatile player but if he can’t play regularly he is of no use to the team. Although he is young, hope Arsenal medics can help him. A good example his Pathey.
The bruh just need to stop slipping
@Gai imo, Viera is a tarlented left footed player, and should naturally deputise for Odegard but seem not suited for Epl type of football. The pace and physicality. I am waiting to see how Arsenal will manage his situation.
I think it all depend on if Arteta wants him.
Apparently Sambi and Tav have had such good seasons, the clubs they are at want to keep them. I always felt, with both, there was a player in their somewhere – maurading fall back who defended poorly and a midfielder with such technical ability and strength to become a midfield General. It didn’t work out here, but doesn’t mean genuine promise was never there when scouted in first place.
The fact Thomas has let his contract run down, makes me think Barca may have said something to him and his agent a year or more ago, if he became fee less, and Barca interest only grown due to his fitness and performances in 2025. Other than seeing it as Arsenal showing someone a door, a Barca signing on fee, wage and contract, and lustre of playing for them, is likely something Arsenal can’t compete with. A lot of players do like to move clubs at that age and moment in career, especially as a move to Barca is actually a move upwards, to be honest.
If you go Thomas, you travel forever with our love and respect 💛
Just to add to your comment,I felt yes we need reinforcement up front and possibly midfield but some players whose contracts are expiring such as kiwior,Thomas Partey and Tierney kirren,surely and seriously,ARSENAL should consider extending their stay at N5,
The mid field is problematic positions to change player any how,I can remember very well when players in the midfield were sold, we had problems there,first was VIERRA,ALEXANDER HLEB,FABREGAS,XHAKA,all these when we lost them, it became a problem to get another good players in their positions, I only hope we don’t make similar mistakes as before, I want these THREE PLAYERS TO BE KEPT, and not rush off loading them, my take
Partey and Kiwior should not be allowed to leave at this time. No matter who we bring in if there’s no decent cover we’ll get sucked. Mind you, a lot of eyes will be on arsenal next season because of the level we attained this season
Partey is still a starter, but it probably is the right time to bring in the player who can take his place (beyond zubimendi, I don’t know who else might be available who can do it). The other option might be to start using MLS in that role, but if that were the case, I’d definitely want to keep partey for the next season or so while he gains experience.
Kiwior imo is good enough to actually challenge Gabriel – the big thing that gives Gabriel an edge is his presence on the pitch, he makes a bigger impact and I think that helps the team psychologically, but generally I think kiwior is good enough to start games (as he’s just shown) and could be a legitimate challenger.
Tierney I’d now really like to stay because he’s good enough to start and gives us options for different games – intelligent, solid defender, overlaps really well and can cross. The biggest question was always his fitness, but he’s been available for almost the whole of this season, and looked good when he’s played. It also seems that arteta has relaxed his approach and has found ways to use him, even if it deviates slightly from his preferred inverted left back system.
I would keep all three if we can – would not be surprised if all of them do move on, though.
Ideally, you want a right footed player playing in the Partey role- it’s more natural for them to pass accurately and with pace to Saka/Odegaard. MLS belongs on the left side where it’s more natural for him. I guess MLS could nominally play number six if you invert from RB rather than LB, that way, the right back will take on the passing responsibilities on the right.
I’m not big on the left foot, right foot thing for central midfielders – in some situations it would make it harder for him to quickly pass to saka or odegaard, in others it would be easier. Same for martinelli. I could be wrong but I don’t think it makes *that* much difference.
Overall though I think it comes down to football intelligence and how quickly he can spot the passes and find the right spaces to receive it. I think MLS is one of the rare players who could do it well.
You’re right as well, we could have the right back move inside, depending on personnel.
Most players are generally comfortable on a particular side or area of the pitch than the other. It’s all about putting a player where they are most comfortable and effective. Even Partey has a bias to the right and you’ll rarely find him on the left. Like you said though, there are players who have no apparent bias to any side. Maybe MLS can do it.
How brilliant was Kiwior last night? Before this tie, many people,myself included, thought that he would be the weak link. I’m glad he proved us wrong. I think he’s good enough to be a starter for a big club and that is probably why he would want to leave. I would understand if he wanted to leave for more game time because he’s at the age where he should be playing regularly.
As for Partey, who knows? He’s certainly showed he can play still play at this level. My guess is that the club hasn’t offered him a contract extension for financial reasons. He’s on high wages and would probably be looking for a big pay in what could be his last contract at the highest level.
Tierney is another who probably wants to leave for more playing time. It’s a shame he doesn’t fit stylistically to how we play now. I think his injury history is another reason why the club would be reluctant to give him a new contract. A less physical league would suit him.
Completely agree on kiwior – I did think he’d step up tbh, but was worried I’d be proved wrong. He looked like he belonged at that level and made it look quite easy.
Absolutely. He’s done well. But I also think Mikel made some tweaks to protect him and simplify his task. Gabriel is usually tasked with not only covering the left centre back area, but also out wide in the left back area. Kiwior on the other hand has only been tasked with left centre back where he’s most comfortable. He’s never been comfortable defending one v one out wide.Rice and Martinelli have been covering that LB area where you’d normally find Gabriel in the event MLS is in midfield.
I admit Kiwior has proven me wrong too. If we decide to sell him or he decides to leave, we must make sure we get a nice transfer fee. I hope the days of Edu selling players for peanuts are over. +-£40mil should be the asking price
I think Edu was selling players cheap who wanted away or who were a disruptive force.
The value of a player is more complicated than what they did on the pitch, often quite a long time ago in football terms.
It makes a big difference when you have a good side, players want to come and play for Arsenal now, not just come and get paid.
Arteta does not rates Tierney because he is a proper left back. Tierney, for his sake needs to go to Celtic. Partey is going to be hard to replace, he is one of the best midfielders in the world. I would keep him. Kiwior is not good enough, he has proved it .ore times than disproving it. BUT like everything in this world, WIN the CL with him at CB and then its a different ball game. He would then have PROVED something.
Not .ore, more times. Sausage fingers🤣
I don’t know what else he has to prove. He almost got the MOTM award yesterday. He has learnt; he has grown. He deserves to stay especially because he has proven he understands the way the manager wants him to play
He is a mistake waiting to happen. Can not fault him for his performance but he isn’t up to the standard required. Believe me, I don’t look at one game.
Reggie
imo KT is a very good LB who can defend and travel up and down the wings but he lacks the ability to to cut in and be comfortable with the ball at his feet. shame he suffered so many injuries and we probably missed the best of him in that time. he looks and sounds like a model professional and i wish him all the best when he goes back to his boyhood club.
MLS who i think will move positions in the future, whilst still learning his trade has the ability to drift passed players and open things up. defending wise he is getting better in his positional play.
TP has lost his legs and lungs and not able to step through the middle and break lines. he exposes at times as unable to back if it has been turned over.
against RM the game was perfect for him and he showed his class as we sat deep and he could break up play and didnt have to travel far.
whilst a good addition to the squad he is getting older and will get slower and he probably want one more big pay day.
imo it would be foolish to give him another contract on big money and we should thank him for his services and move on.
as GAI mentioned he still has this court case hanging over his head and it doesn’t look pretty.
onwards and upwards
Yes the Partey thing is a factor.
I very much doubt that both Kiwior and Tierney would be happy just being squad players here at The Arsenal and will want to play regularly, so will likely move on in pursuit of more regular game time.
As for Partey, if the rumours are true then I would be very, very, surprised if he was offered a new contract.
There is no doubt Declan Rice is the man of the tournament this far, but Thomas Partey was instrumental in keeping the squad calm under the retractable stadium, at no time did the world class player phase by the occasion.
Am shocked this player who left a team that was an automatic qualifier in the champions league to represent us who hadn’t had a sniff in many moons, to be in a conversation of getting rid of.
Thomas Partey is one more reason why Arsenal needs to win the champions league.
Kiwior has been so good lately. We must keep him.
I would prefer Thomas to stay. If the team is to find his replacement. Let come on the place of Joginho. Kiwor must stay to to provide enough cover in the absence of our two immortals
Partey is a definite starter in major clubs in the world, he is one of the best defensive mid fielder in the world right now. However lets not get carried away with all that current form.
His quality is not in doubt, his injury history is. He is is always getting injured each time Ateta succeeds in building the mid field around him, and when he does get his injury, it disorganizes the shape of the team.
The first leg against PSG will show exactly what his absence does to the team once the team get used to his presence.
My verdict is, sell him now that we can still get good price out of him. Bro is also aging, which means his recovery time after each injury is increasing.
I think Kiwior is a great footballing center back, but where he falls short is the physical side of his game. In the PL it’s much more physical and he gets knocked off a little bit too easy for my confidence. However, I still think he is worth keeping if he wants to stay.
Tierney gets injured EVERY season! Get rid!
Although injured a lot as well, I would keep Partey for another season because he is an absolute beast when fit.
Keep Kiwior if possible, but no more playing him at LB. He has to be given a chance at CB. Problem is, is he happy to sit on the bench most of the time?
I would keep Kiwor, in football, you cannot be certain. He came in for Gabriel and took the position as his own. Let’s imagine if he hadn’t been there!
I’m a big fan of Tierney, but unfortunately it appears Arteta isn’t, and as he has the final say in selection, Tierney needs to get away if he want’s more game time. But I for one will be sorry to see him go.
As for Partey, there’s no doubting his quality, but with his injury record always hanging over him, the club may now need to look for a like for like replacement.
Now for Kiwior, to be honest I wasn’t to convinced by him, although to be fare to him that was when he played at left back. But seeing him in his natural Centre Back position, well I must say what an eye opener.
I think it may be the sensible thing for the club to do is keep him.
Just a thought on another Arsenal player, who like Kiwior I haven’t been convinced by is Calafiori. But like Kiwior, to be fare to Calafiori he to has only played left back. Given the opportunity just like Kiwior, maybe he will convince me more about him at Centre Back just like Kiwior has.
Calafiori reminds me a bit of Gabriel in the early days when he was quite raw and error prone. It’s easy to forget he’s the youngest player in the squad bar our stars from the academy.He’ll become more refined as he matures.I do believe he will make an excellent centre back but in the meantime he’ll have to split minutes between CB and LB.
I’ve said before that Kiwior was doing ok. My memory of when he was bought, he wasn’t seen as being “the finished article”, he was someone who would develop at the club.
When he made the bench quite quickly I was a bit surprised – even more surprised when people started judging him by the same standards as the starting CBs who are among the best in the world.
Also, he was often being played at LB when his best position is CB. IN fact, I’m not ure if he ever played at LB before coming to Arsenal.
All in all, I hope he can be persuaded to stay. Not only is he good enough to be – or to become – a starter, but also there’s a danger of things changing like Saliba going to RM at some point. Or even a danger of injury, like we have now, or want to rest someone, rotate etc.
Tierney is a different kettle of fish to Kiwior to my mind.
I overlooked that he arrived at the club injured – and that probably wasn’t the right view to take. When he recovered, I was initially impressed with his performances, then he got injured a lot more, then he admitted himself that he couldn’t learn the way Arteta likes full backs to play.
I’m not sure I agree that his recent performaces have been good. In the 1st leg v RM he gave a way a possession and/or a foul pretty much every time the ball came near him. And – he was playing as an extra defensive body when Arsenal were trying to close out the game – no the same as being a starter.
So over time, I’ve changed my mind about him. He seems a likeable guy, who does try his best and remains totally professional, but ultimately he’s not what Arsenal needs.
Both Jorginho and Partey time at Arsenal football club has come to an end sadly the constant contact by Arsenal with Zubimendis camp can only give you a glimpse of what’s happening so what i can say if that it was a pleasure seeing Partey in arsenal colours and i have much respect for him as a player,he is good overally as a CDM and he is among the top ten best DM in the When it comes to Kiwior he hasn’t shown any desire to leave arsenal though in the media it’s a different story, the game time he has played in the absence of Gabriel would do him lots of good and would be enough to convince him to stay because he has been trusted to fill Gabriel shoes if Timber had been pushed to play CB with Saliba and White to play right back then it would have confirmed that Kiwior isn’t in Artetas plan but he has played and shown he is a good CB with is composed display.
btw the title says “Outgoing players”… are they all definitely leaving, did I miss an announcement or something re Kiwior?
I know about the other two.
Certainly want the 3 to remain. I would be happy to keep Tierney instead of Zincheko at this stage. It would be really unsmart not to extend Partey for 2 seasons as he’s so much central to Arsenal play offensively and defensively. Kiwior should be a definite stay.
We need to keep Partey, for another two years, at least. This as a no-brainer for the new Sporting Director, Andrea Berta.
If Kiwior wants to leave then our asking price should be bumped up to 60M. He has loads of potential and just needs to be rotated into the starting eleven for more playing time. In other words, we should keep him.
Tierney’s case is different. After so many injuries and a period on loan, he needs to return to Scotland. Still a good player but will struggle for game time under our new system.
Let me add one (crazy) idea! Ben White for sale as a centreback? We should not stand in his way if we receive 60M for Ben White from a mid-table team.
Disagree on your last paragraph
It seems that if the boss were to listen to all the above opinions then all the above mentioned players will remain until their next disaster. Some even can’t wait for Viera to return, go figure. However you have to be ruthless and ,I would sacrifice Kiwior and even Partey, provided we can find a better for him. Regardless of our current euphoria we still need to find a striker, creative midfielder and wingback. Considering that I would retain Tierney to save money and splash the cash on a midfielder and goal scorer . We will have enough defensive cover by the start of the new season.
The dilemma facing Arteta ,as I see it ,concerns Kwior and the talented, but injury prone Calafiori.In terms of pure footballing skills the Italian is the better player, but, and it’s a big but, Kwior is never injured and he has proved many of us doubters wrong since he took over from the injured Gabriel who is recognised as our Manager’s first choice.I believe Calafiori and Kwior are both sellable assets and are admired by a number of teams in the Italian League.Does Arteta cash in on one and retain the other?If so Calafiori is more expendable than Kwior imo.
Madrid want to sign kiwior after his recent performance he’s the unsung hero. Only a blind fool would sell him
We have to keep Kiwior, he deserves a run in of games. For a player to lack match fitness and still produce convincing displays, has to stay. He and saliba has not lost a match yet playing together. Besides, the times he had bad games was when he was used as LB.