Arsenal are prepared to sanction the departure of one of Mikel Arteta’s most trusted players this summer, if they receive a suitable offer.
Having masterminded the Gunners’ first Premier League title-winning campaign in 22 years, Mikel Arteta and the club’s hierarchy are not about to rest on their laurels.
Within days of confirming their status as champions, Josh Kroenke essentially confirmed plans were already underway to arm Arteta with a squad capable of defending the title and winning the Champions League.
After defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest a month ago, Arteta himself admitted his ideal would be to manage a side capable of fighting fire with fire and not having to rely on his side’s defensive fortitude to win the biggest prizes.
Don’t miss a World Cup moment
Lionel Messi’s hat-trick. Cape Verde’s heroics. Those Scottish fans.
It’s been a memorable World Cup so far – our daily newsletter helps you make the most of it. Sign up.
To that end, Arsenal are pressing ahead with a move for Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, while they are also mulling over moves for Julian Alvarez and Bradley Barcola.
While Arsenal have a considerable budget to work with, they will have to sell several first team players in order to land their main targets.
The likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Christian Norgaard are all attracting interest from elsewhere, while according to the BBC’s Sami Mokbel, speaking on the Latte Firm podcast, skipper Martin Odegaard could also be deemed surplus to requirements.
Arteta’s Arsenal revolution took a major step forward when Odegaard joined Arsenal, initially on loan from Real Madrid, five years ago.
Appointed captain upon the departure of Granit Xhaka, the Norway international established himself as a hugely influential character both on and off the pitch.
A series of injuries, triggered by the fractured ankle he suffered while playing for his country back in September 2024, has seen impact wane.
Eberechi Eze was signed last summer to help inject new life into Arsenal’s forward line and, after a slow start, he made a huge impact over the course of the run-in, sharing playmaking duties with Odegaard.
Having missed a total of 30 matches for club and country last season with various ailments, it now appears that Arsenal are prepared to cut their ties with one of Arteta’s most trusted lieutenants.
Bayern Munich and PSG have both been tentatively linked with moves for the 27-year-old and Arsenal would be looking to make a substantial profit on the £30million they paid to sign Odegaard from Real.
Arsenal legend Merson had doubts over Odegaard’s future at the Emirates Stadium, earlier this month and wouldn’t be surprised if his former club looked to sell during their captain in the summer window.
‘It’s madness for me to be saying this, but they probably will be thinking about that [selling Martin Odegaard]’, Merson said on The Sports Agents, which is available to watch/listen to now on Global Player, YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.
‘But for me, I still think there’ll be teams queuing round the block for him… When you play in the position that Odegaard plays in, you’re screaming out for pace up front. You have to have pace.’