Manager Unai Emery has released some Arsenal player news ahead of the Gunners’ preseason preparations. The new boss has identified five players he will build the Arsenal squad around. Although Emery wants to bring in fresh blood to the club, he has a core of talent that will be the building blocks for the future at the Emirates.
Arsenal player news: 5 players key to building Gunners
Emery and chief scout Sven Mislintat have been hard at work crafting an Arsenal side that will compete for a place in the Premier League top four next term. The club has already signed Stephan Lichsteiner and Bernd Leno for next term. The club is still working on further deals to strength Arsenal’s defence.
Midfielder’s Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla are rumoured to be headed for the exit. Both have been plagued by injury and the club is ready to cut its losses on the two.
While Emery and Mislintat are looking for new players to bring in and deciding on which to let go, reports indicate the duo have settled on a core of five stars that mustn’t leave.
Emery is ready to build Arsenal’s future around Alexandre Lacazette, Hector Bellerin, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Granit Xhaka and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Two of the five players played at Borussia Dortmund, the club Mislintat previously worked for. He is familiar with the duo and speculation continues that the scout will try to lure more ex-Dortmund stars to the Emirates.
Arsenal player news: Leno takes Petre Cech’s place in goal
Leno, 26-years old, will join Arsenal when the transfer window opens in July. The goalkeeper is expected to take Cech’s place as Arsenal’s No. 1. The move comes just weeks after Cech was officially given the No. 1 jersey at arsenal.
Since Leno’s signing was announced, Cech was in talks over a move to Serie A’s Napoli. However, a loan deal has not been worked out.
Arsenal’s new goalkeeper will cost the Gunners £22.5 million. Leno had two years left on his Bayer Leverkusen contract. However, the club’s signing of Lukas Hradecky made Leno expendable.
Arsenal player news: Aaron Ramsey
Aaron Ramsey has just one season left to run on his current Arsenal contract. The two sides have recently opened dialogue over a new contract. Numerous Gunners supporters have stated the club needs to retain Ramsey. He has been seen as one of Arsenal’s best performers in recent seasons.
