Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is prepared to let eight first-team players leave this summer to create funds for a squad that can compete for the Premier League title next year.

According to The Daily Mirror’s Nathan Ridley, Arsenal may offload Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka, Kieran Tierney, Rob Holding, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Reiss Nelson, Folarin Balogun, and Emile Smith Rowe this summer in order to make way for five new key summer signings as the Gunners are expected to be in for a busy summer transfer window.

Mikel Arteta set for a summer clearout at the Emirates Stadium

The Spanish manager has reportedly been given a $250m war chest to spend this summer, along with funds created by player sales, as the Gunners’ eye-up moves for West Ham captain Declan Rice, Manchester City pair Joao Cancelo and Ilkay Gundogan, Leicester City’s creative midfielder James Maddison and Crystal Palace stalwart Marc Guehi, who is also a target for Premier League rivals Liverpool.