ARSENAL are set to wave goodbye to at least three players this summer – including a long-term club servant.
Mikel Arteta has been effective in clearing out the dead wood since he was named Arsenal boss.
But there are still some players who he has been unable to find suitors for, who are now set to leave when their contracts expire this summer.
One of those players is a remnant of the Arsene Wenger era – one of only three left standing alongside Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson.
Arsenal are set to make a reported saving of £140,000-a-week by offloading the trio, who have had mixed experiences at The Emirates.
Elneny, 31, was signed for just £5million by Wenger in 2016, making him the longest-serving player at the club with the exception of academy graduates.
He has been a rotation option throughout his eight-year stay in North London, which included a spell on loan at Besiktas in the 2019-20 season.
The Egyptian never played more than 23 league games in a single campaign but has always been a loyal squad member and never kicked up a fuss.
Elneny’s importance has diminished even more in the last two years with eight Premier League appearances across the two campaigns, so it is no surprise his contract is not being renewed.
Cedric’s departure has also been expected for some time, and the Gunners will be pleased to free up his £75,000-a-week wages.
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By Jordan Davies
ARSENAL are stepping up plans to sign a world-class striker in the summer after their Champions League heartbreak.
Mikel Arteta splashed out £204.5m last summer on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber.
But the Spanish manager accepts he needs a proven goalscorer to take the club to the next level.
And here are the players he is looking at to get the Gunners firing:
BENJAMIN SESKO (RB Leipzig, value £40m-£45m)
One for the future at 20 years old. Scored 16 goals for RB Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga last season and the Slovenian has carried on that good form in Germany with Leipzig this campaign.
VIKTOR GYOKERES (Sporting Lisbon, value £60m-£80m)
Been scouted several times this season. The Swedish striker, 25, is more of a traditional No 9 so may not suit Arsenal’s demand for flexibility but would bring a physicality that boss Mikel Arteta craves.
ALEXANDER ISAK (Newcastle, value £75m-£85m)
Impressed in his first two seasons in English football. The Swede, 24, has the pace and finesse to match his finishing ability, and Eddie Howe’s Toon may need to sell to balance the books this summer.
JOSHUA ZIRKZEE (Bologna, value £45m-£50m)
Dutch wonder is attracting the attentions of clubs across Europe. At 6ft 4in the 22-year-old forward would have no trouble adapting to the Premier League and already has an eye for goal.
XAVI SIMONS (RB Leipzig, value £70m-£80m)
An incredible talent in the Bukayo Saka mould, currently on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. The future of the Dutch attacker, 20, depends on how much money his parent club want to make from him.
The 32-year-old arrived from Southampton in 2019 but has made just 64 appearances and has always ranked below Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu in the pecking order.
Cedric spent time on loan at Fulham last season and has barely been seen this campaign.
Hein, 22, was signed as a teenager in 2018 under Unai Emery but has never got a look in.
He played just once for Arsenal in a game to forget, losing 3-1 to Brighton in the Carabao Cup.
