Mikel Arteta told to offload Pepe and five other stars

Mikel Arteta has been told to axe a few players in the summer window.

The Gunners are expected to break the club record fee of £105million to sign West Ham captain Declan Rice.

They have already signed Kai Havertz last month and defender Jurrien Timber is set to become Arteta’s second signing of the summer.

Both Mikel Arteta and Edu are working together to trim the Arsenal squad and sign new players as the club prepares for their return to the Champions League.

Arsenal are set to offload some of the fringe players and Ex-Gunners Alan Smith names a few players Arsenal should start with.

“Nicolas Pepe, I haven’t seen too much about him in the papers regarding a move,” Smith said.

“‘He was bought for far too much money, and it’d be great to recoup some of that because I don’t think Arteta is a massive fan. You can’t hang your hat on him.

“Players like Tavares and Lokonga, promising youngsters, could move on. Arteta certainly does need to get two or three players off of the wage bill.

“Rob Holding has been linked with a move away. There’s not much potential for him to get into the team now. Holding is great in the dressing room and he will always give it his all but he is probably a level below where you need to be for Arsenal – he may have to leave.”

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