Mikel Arteta confirms four players are leaving Arsenal ahead of key transfer window

Mikel Arteta will need to refresh Arsenal’s squad this summer (Picture; Getty)

Mikel Arteta has vowed that work on Arsenal’s summer rebuild starts immediately after confirming the departures of four players from his squad.

The Gunners ended their campaign with a 2-1 win at Southampton that cemented their position as runners up in the Premier League for a third year in a row.

If Arsenal are to bridge the gap and finally get over the line under Arteta, a significant amount of work will need to be done in the summer window.

The Gunners left themselves woefully short in attack this term following the injuries sustained by Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.

Ultimately, they ended the season with no player registering double figures for goals for the first time in over 100 years.

Arteta did find an unlikely goalscorer at St Mary’s on Sunday as left-back Kieran Tierney marked his final appearance for the club with a rare strike.

The Scotland international appears likely to rejoin his former club Celtic, while the likes of Jorginho as well as loan signings Raheem Sterling and goalkeeper Neto are set to depart.

Kieran Tierney scored for Arsenal on his final appearance for the club (Credits: Mark Enfield/IPS/Shutterstock)

‘I’m very happy,’ said Arteta after Martin Odegaard’s late winner. ‘You want to start your holidays in the next few days with a good feeling, with a good vibe, seeing some smiley faces there.

‘It was important to win it, it was important as well to say goodbye to a few players who have left our football club, to say thank you for their contribution.

‘Some of them, like Kieran, they’ve been on this journey for six years with us. Jorginho, we’re trying to hug him, Neto and Raheem as well.

Jorginho is set to leave Arsenal and join Flamengo (Picture: Getty)

‘So, there are a few players that I had the duty to say thank you to. I think we all have and we wish them the best for the next season.

‘[Kieran] mentioned it yesterday, he said ‘I’m going to score in my last game’ and he’s certainly done it.’

He added: ‘It’s time to reflect, time to reset, and get our energy back.

‘It’s been a really demanding season, a season that has stretched us all. But I think the culture and the mindset that we have at the football club have sustained everything to perform with the resources that we have at the highest level up to the last day, and I think that’s remarkable.’