Mikel Arteta has said he expects there to be plenty of changes at Arsenal this summer as the Premier League club looks to bounce back from a disappointing season.
Arsenal were knocked out of the Europa League last week and are ninth in the Premier League ahead of their clash at third-placed Chelsea on Wednesday, facing the prospect of no European football for the first time in 25 years.
The Gunners have fared no better in the domestic cups, with a fourth round exit in the FA Cup, to Southampton, and a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City in the League Cup quarter-finals.
Arteta said that the club will also have to resolve the futures of several of their current players.
"There are so many things to do because we already have a lot of players on loan and a lot of players with contracts still that we need to sort," Arteta told reporters.
"It'll depend what happens with a lot of those players and what we're able to recruit to improve the team, that's going to determine where we are.
"We've been sitting down the whole year ... been in constant communication and things will change, some things will stick to the plan we already had and some other things will come out. But we sit down very regularly to talk about those things."
Arteta said he hoped they will not have to pay off contracts in the close season to trim their squad. Arsenal endured expensive terminations of contracts for players who were left out of squad lists this season, including Greek defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Mesut Ozil.
They also mutually terminated the contract of defender Shkodran Mustafi.
"I don't know where the summer will take us. I think every situation will be different and hopefully we're not in that position anymore," Arteta said.
Amid a predominantly bleak season, a number of Arsenal's young players have shone. Bukayo Saka has emerged as one of the most exciting talents in the Premier League, while Emile Smith Rowe has seized his chance in the first team with a string of impressive performances. Meanwhile, the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah, and Reiss Nelson have shown promise, and Arteta believes Arsenal have a bright future as long as he can find the right balance in the squad.
"There's great potential with them ... They're ready to take responsibility in important moments," he said. "They have the level to do it, the hunger to do it and the right senior players around them to help as well. It's about how we click, how we're consistent."
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Arsenal v West Brom player ratings
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ARSENAL PLAYER RATINGS: Bernd Leno: 6 – The Arsenal keeper had a solid game, making routine saves and displaying bravery with the ball at his feet when playing out from the back, even when West Brom pressed him. PA -
Calum Chambers: 7 – The right-back was in fine form, assisting Pepe’s strike in the first half. He always looked a bright spark when receiving the ball, then running into space down the flank. EPA -
Rob Holding: 6 – The Arsenal captain was a strong aerial presence at the back, clearing up any of the longer balls put forward by the away side. He also kept Diagne quiet before he was subbed off early in the second half. EPA -
Gabriel: 6 – In for Pablo Mari, Gabriel could and should have closed Pereira down quicker rather than backing off and allowing him to shoot for his goal. Reuters -
Bukayo Saka: 9 – Starting at left-back, Saka was the home side’s driving force in the first half. He grabbed an assist in the 29th minute, crossing to Smith Rowe. Caused issues down his flank and West Brom couldn’t deal with the youngster who should have had more than one assist to his name. Reuters -
Mohamed Elneny: 5 – The 28-year-old screened the midfield and his backline well during most of the game but should have closed Pereira better to deny him space. Played some neat passes that helped Arsenal play from the back. AP -
Dani Ceballos: 6 – The midfielder struggled in the opening moments, often looking backwards or sideways with the ball. Once his side took the lead, he looked more inspired and began to pull the strings with some cute passing. AP -
Nicolas Pepe: 7 – The winger scored a goal-of-the-season contender in the first half, cutting in and shooting from the right. He continued to cause issues thereafter, picking up the ball and running at the Albion defence who struggled to contain him. AP -
Emile Smith Rowe: 7 – The 20-year-old grabbed his first Premier League goal for Arsenal, making clever movements to evade his marker and slot home from Saka’s cross. He looked a bright spark for the Gunners before being subbed in the second half. Reuters -
Willian: 7 – The Brazilian showed glimpses of quality for his side, occasionally taking up good positions and playing passes that created some space for his teammates. Scored his first goal for Arsenal in the league from a free kick just outside the box. PA -
SocGabriel Martinelli: 5 – The Braziliani started up front rather than his usual wide berth. He struggled to provide a presence and make the right movement in the box. Reuters -
SUBS: Alexandre Lacazette (for Martinelli 60’): 5 – The striker had one big chance to score and put the game out of sight. He was unable to stretch enough to convert it after some clever movement and had few other chances to add to his tally. EPA -
Kieran Tierney (For Smith Rowe 63’): 6 – After his recent injury troubles, Tierney put in a safe performance off the bench. The left-back didn’t try to do too much, showing some quality on the ball (no match photo available). Reuters -
Thomas Partey (For Ceballos 76’): 6 – The midfielder came on to try and shore up the game after West Brom got back into the game. Covered the midfield well in the late moments of the game. AFP -
WEST BROM PLAYER RATINGS: Sam Johnstone: 6 – The England international was powerless to stop all three goals, getting fingertips to Pepe’s wonder strike but unable to do much more. Made some routine stops from range during the game. AP -
Conor Townsend: 7 – A bright spark for the visitors. He put in a decent defensive performance down his flank, though he could have denied Pepe the time to shift the ball to his left for the second goal. Looked otherwise assured in a tough game up against Pepe and Chambers. AP -
Kyle Bartley: 5 – The 29-year-old had a difficult evening, much like his defensive partners. He often had to deal with runs across him and got caught once or twice. Gave away a clumsy foul that resulted in the free kick for the Willian goal. Reuters -
Semi Ajayi: 6 – The defender looked a threat aerially in both boxes, offering danger offensively and sweeping up well defensively. He often had to secure the near post area when Arsenal continually attacked down their right. EPA -
Darnell Furlong: 5 – Had a tough evening attThe Emirates, having to deal with the bright Saka and Willian overloading his flank without much help from his teammates. Made one excellent challenge to deny Saka in the box but had an otherwise difficult game. AP -
West BroCallum Robinson: 5 – The 26-year-old played on the same side as Furlong but offered little in the way of help for the fullback and often left him in two-on-one situations. Robinson was unable to add much going forward for the Baggies. AP -
Conor Gallagher: 7 – The midfielder put in a good performance for his side, running and pressing throughout and occasionally making himself a nuisance for Arsenal. EPA -
Okay Yokuslu: 6 – The Turkey international added some fight and showed glimpses of quality during the game. He screened well centrally and denied much of the Arsenal threat in the middle third. AP -
Matt Phillips: 5 – Started centrally and didn’t get much of a chance to provide West Brom with quality going forward. Started well in his defensive duties but as the game went on, he allowed more and more space centrally for the opposition to drive into. Getty Images -
Matheus Pereira: 9 – The playmaker was Albion’s main threat going forward, looking dangerous when receiving the ball, and he fired a few shots inches wide before the break. Scored a fantastic solo goal in the second half, running from halfway and finishing from the edge of the box. AP -
Mbaye Diagne: 4 – Diagne had little to do during the game, not getting the service he would have wanted before being subbed off early in the second half. PA -
SUBS: Hal Robson-Kanu (For Diagne 56’): 6 – Came on to change the dynamic of the game early in the second half. He offered runs in behind, one of which gave Pereira the space to run into for the goal. Reuters -
Grady Diangana (For Robinson 68’): 6 – The 23-year-old was brought on to offer a spark for his side. He picked up the ball on a few occasions but was unable to create much with it (no match photo available). PA
