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Arsenal’s fans may have finished January deeply frustrated with their club’s lack of business and failure to bring in another striker, but they look set to say farewell to a number of players in the summer when their contract runs out.
As it stands, first-team squad members that could be saying their goodbyes include regular right-back Bacary Sagna and striker Nicklas Bendtner, while understudy goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is also expected to end his stay in north London.
One player whose future was unclear was Tomas Rosicky, but Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that an agreement has been reached to extend his stay with the Gunners.
So who is out of contract at Arsenal this season or could be shown the exit door? Click on the gallery below to find out… Show all 8 1 /8Arsenal players who could leave the Emirates this summer Arsenal players who could leave the Emirates this summer Lukasz Fabianski The Pole looks set to end his frustrating spell with the Gunners having spent the bulk of his time in north London as an understudy. Having joined the club in 2007 from Legia Warsaw, Fabianski has made just 31 Premier League appearances, having seen firstly Manuel Almunia and Jens Lehmann ahead of him before his compatriot Wojciech Szczesny took over between the sticks at the Emirates. Despite brief chances to make his first-team claim, injury and costly mistakes has seen Arsene Wenger lose patience with the 28-year-old, and he is likely to try and resurrect his career elsewhere.
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Arsenal players who could leave the Emirates this summer Bacary Sagna The biggest name who looks likely to leave the Emirates this season after contract negotiations reportedly broke down between the club and the Frenchman. Wenger’s policy to offer over-30’s a one-year extension only looks set to rob him of yet another experienced player, having seen players such as Robert Pires head for pastures new when contract talks broke down. Carl Jenkinson has shown potential that he can step up and replace Sagna, but his development is far from complete and would see one of Arsenal’s stronger positions severely weakened.
Arsenal players who could leave the Emirates this summer Nicklas Bendtner The frustrating figure that is Nicklas Bendtner has looked happier at Arsenal this season than in recent years, but he is almost certain to be allowed to leave after failing to fulfil his promise that saw him held in such high esteem by Wenger back in 2004. Stints away from the club haven’t produced much in terms of success in front of goal, and Wenger’s desire to bring in a new striker looks to be the final nail in his almost buried Gunners coffin.
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Arsenal players who could leave the Emirates this summer Kim Kallstrom Kallstrom was Wenger’s surprise January signing, having moved to sign the Swedish international on deadline day on a loan until the end of the season. Arsenal fans got an even bigger surprise – not to mention an unwelcomed one – the following day when the 31-year-old was immediately ruled out for six weeks with an existing back injury. His stay is not expected to continue beyond the summer.
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Arsenal players who could leave the Emirates this summer Emiliano Viviano Brought in to provide competition with Szczesny and Fabianski, Viviano was one of Wenger’s few summer signings having been acquired on a season-long loan deal with a view to a permanent move. But the Italian has failed to make a single appearance this season, and looks likely to return to Palermo when his deal expires – although there is a hefty £5m clause to make the move permanent on top of the £1m paid for the initial loan.
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Arsenal players who could leave the Emirates this summer Thomas Vermaelen The Arsenal club captain is contracted until 2015, but he has spent the bulk of the past two seasons on the bench as Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny have struck up a formidable partnership. Despite admitting he is happy at the Emirates, he has confirmed that he will look at the situation if he remains out of favour. Having burst onto the Premier League when he joined the club in 2009, injury hampered the Belgian and he soon fell out of favour when Koscielny joined Mertesackker in the heart of the defence.
Arsenal players who could leave the Emirates this summer Lukas Podolski The German’s run-out against Sunderland on the weekend was just the fifth time in his Arsenal career that Podolski has completed 90 minutes. While he exuberates the feel-good atmosphere currently surrounding the Gunners squad, and is part of an ever-growing number of Germans under Wenger’s guidance, he could lose patience with his inconsistency when it comes to first team selection.
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Arsenal players who could leave the Emirates this summer Arsene Wenger The manager himself is yet to commit to a new contract, and while his extension is expected imminently (it may already be a case of deal-done) he future cannot be made clear until an announcement is made. A collapse during their difficult March schedule could see a new contract thrown into jeopardy.
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