The seven Arsenal players soon to be out of contract and those likely to leave

A look at the Arsenal players out of contract in the near future, and what the Gunners are likely to do.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Aresenal are still enjoying a superb season at the top of the Premier League.

The Gunners currently sit eight points clear at the top, though Manchester City do possess a game in-hand at this stage. Club football now pauses for the best part of two weeks, with international football taking centre stage, and it will give Arsenal some time to think about some upcoming contract decisions ahead of the summer.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With that in mind, we have taken a look at the contract decisions facing the Gunners, and what the North London club are likely to do.

Reiss Nelson

The biggest and most pressing contract decision facing Arsenal is that of Reiss Nelson. The winger is the only player out of contract this summer, with Mohamed Elneny recently signing a new deal.

Nelson still has a big upside, still only 23, and he has shown that this season with very limited opportunity. Game time is always going to be hard to come by with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli starters, but in the four league games Nelson has played, he has managed three goals and two assists.

There’s not an awful lot more he can do to convince Mikel Arteta, in terms of game time at least, but it may not be enough to get him a new deal. Arsenal will want to strengthen out wide this summer, and Nelson could be a casualty of that.

Bukayo Saka

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Saka is out of contract in the summer of 2024 as things stand, but reports suggest the two parties are very close to a long-term agreement.

Arsenal will be desperate to get this one done, and with what the team is showing on the pitch, the winger should be convinced pretty easily, as long as the Gunners put up good figures.

William Saliba

Saliba is another crucial player Arsenal will want to keep around long-term, but things look a lot less certain on this front.

There will, no doubt, be talks going on, but other clubs are likely to be interested in pulling the defender away, and it’s not certain Saliba won’t listen. Arsenal will surely look to make real progress on this one during the coming summer. Allowing the deal to go into its final year would be a huge risk given how attractive Saliba is to others.

Jorginho

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Jorginho was only snapped up from Chelsea in January, but he only penned an 18-month deal.

There is an option to extend this deal built into the contract, but the Gunners have more pressing contract matters to think about currently. Jorginho will be focussing on proving himself useful, and at 31 years of age, his future is far from guaranteed.

Granit Xhaka

Xhaka once looked destined to leave Arsenal, but he has since proven himself as a key part of Arteta’s plans.

Arsenal fan celebrates Granit Xhaka’s goal during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 leg two match between Arsenal FC and Sporting CP at Emirates Stadium on March 16, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)Arsenal fan celebrates Granit Xhaka’s goal during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 leg two match between Arsenal FC and Sporting CP at Emirates Stadium on March 16, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal fan celebrates Granit Xhaka’s goal during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 leg two match between Arsenal FC and Sporting CP at Emirates Stadium on March 16, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Like with Jorginho, Xhaka’s future is not going to be a priority, but it may well be something Arsenal address this summer as they look to reward the Swiss international’s effort and committment this season.

Rob Holding

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Holding has proven himself as a worthy back-up, and most recently in the win over Crystal Palace.

Arsenal may well strengthen the centre-back position in the summer, and much will likely depend on that. There is also the question of whether Holding wants to continue serving as a back-up player when he can likely get starts elsewhere. This one is likely to remain undecided for now.

Mohamed Elneny

Elneny has struggled with injury this season, but Arsenal made a nice gesture by adding another year to his contract recently, taking him up to 2024.

That contract will allow the midfielder to get fit and stake his claim for another deal. With that in mind, it’s likely Arsenal will wait until at least halfway through next season to make a decision on Elneny.