Arsenal submitted their released list to the Premier League, which reveals they have released nine players this summer, including Per Mertesacker and Santi Cazorla.  Marc Bola, Alex Crean, Aaron Eyoma. Ryan Huddart, Chiori Johnson, Hugo Keto and Tafari Moore were the other seven players on their way out.

Mertesacker has hung up his boots at the end of his contract and will become Arsenal’s new Head of Academy, while Cazorla has left in seek of first-team football after recovering from an 18-month achilles injury.

Arsenal’s released list for 2017/18

Bola, Marc JoelCazorla, SantiagoCrean, Alexander FelixEyoma, Aaron JordanHuddart, Ryan DavidJohnson, ChioriKeto, Hugo OliverMertesacker, PerMoore, Tafari Lalibela

 Arsenal have already made plans for Mertesacker’s absence, with Head of Recruitment Sven Mislintat making it a priority to overhaul the defence this summer – Borussia Dortmund centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos could be on his way to the Emirates.

The Gunners could be lacking in experience at centre-back without Mertesacker, as Laurent Koscielny could miss the start of next season through injury. It would leave Arsenal with Shkodran Mustafi, Rob Holding, Calum Chambers and Konstantinos Mavropanos.

Cazorla’s departure has also highlighted the need for a new central midfielder.  Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey are yet to agree contract extensions at Arsenal and could exit this summer as a result, leaving new manager Unai Emery very short in the engine room. The Gunners are reportedly targeting Sampdoria’s Lucas Torreira among others.

Arsenal’s retained list (Premier League)

Akpom, ChubaAmaechi, Xavier CasmierAsano, TakumaAubameyang, Pierre-EmerickBellerin, HectorBielik, KrystianBola, Tolaji (offer)Bramall, CohenCampbell, JoelCech, PetrChambers, CalumCoyle, TraeDasilva, Pelenda Joshua Tunga (offer)Dragomir, Vlad-Mihai (offer)Elneny, Mohamed Naser ElsayedFortune, Yassin Enzo (offer)Gilmour, Charlie IanHolding, Robert SamuelIliev, Deyan (offer)Iwobi, AlexJenkinson, Carl DanielJohn-Jules, Tyreece RomayoKolasinac, SeadKoscielny, LaurentLacazette, AlexandreMacey, Matthew RyanMaitland-Niles, AinsleyMartinez, Damian EmilianoMavididi, Stephy AlvaroMavropanos, KonstantinosMedley, Zechariah Joshua HenryMkhitaryan, HenrikhMonreal, IgnacioMustafi, ShkodranNelson, ReissNketiah, EdwardNwakali, KelechiOlowu, Joseph OlugbengaOsei-Tutu, JordiOspina, DavidOzil, MesutPerez, LucasPleguezuelo, Julio JoseRamsey, Aaron JamesReine-Adelaide, JeffSheaf, BenSmith Rowe, EmileTormey, Nathan AlexanderVirginia, JoaoWelbeck, DanielWillock, Joseph GeorgeWilshere, Jack Andrew (offer)Xhaka, GranitZelalem, Gedion

Scholars

Ballard, Daniel George (offer contract)Balogun, Folarin JerryBarden, DanielBurton, Robert (offer contract)Clarke, Harrison ThomasDaley-Campbell, VontaeMcEneff, Jordan JohnMcGuinness, Mark JamesOlayinka, Olujimi James AyodeleOmole, Tobi (offer contract)Smith, Matthew GerrardSpencer-Adams, Bayli AlexanderSwanson, ZakThompson, Dominic (offer contract)