Arsenal release 22 footballers from men and women’s teams – including two first-team players and Wrexham loan star – but remain in contract talks with three youngsters
- Arsenal have released 22 players before their contracts expire
- It consists of two players from the first men’s team and a star striker from the women’s team
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Arsenal have released 22 players from their men’s and women’s teams before their contracts expire this month.
Mikel Arteta’s men were pipped to the Premier League title by Manchester City for the second season in a row.
Meanwhile, the women’s team finished third in the WSL, behind winners Chelsea and Manchester City, but won the League Cup.
Both teams will look to mount a new title challenge and go one step further next season, and preparations have begun.
19 players have been released from the men’s team and their contracts expire on June 30.
Arsenal have released 22 players from their men’s and women’s teams before their contracts expire this month.
Mohamed Elneny (above) and Cedric Soares (below) are both heading for the exit later this month
Mohamed Elneny is a notable name on the released list and will leave Arsenal after eight years in north London.
The Egyptian midfielder made 161 appearances for the club and was part of the 2017 FA Cup-winning squad under Arsène Wenger.
Right-back Cedric Soares will also leave the Gunners after 64 appearances over the course of five years, having initially joined on loan from Southampton in 2020.
Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, who spent last season on loan at Wrexham, will leave Arsenal after 15 years at the club.
The contracts of youngsters Amario Cozier-Duberry, Karl Hein and Reuell Walters are set to expire, but Arsenal say ‘discussions are ongoing’ and decisions will be announced ‘in due course’.
Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo will leave permanently after his loan spell at Wrexham
Star striker Vivianne Miedema will leave Arsenal after scoring 124 goals in 166 games
Star striker Vivianne Miedema of the women’s team will head for the exit door after her departure was announced last month.
Mail Sport understands it was a club decision not to renew Miedema’s contract, but the forward remains highly rated.
The Dutch international, who is the WSL’s all-time top scorer with 80 goals, is receiving interest from Manchester City.
She has scored 124 goals in 166 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal after joining from Bayern Munich in 2017.
