Mikel Arteta has warned Arsenal's Premier League rivals that his best players will be going nowhere this summer.
The Gunners head into this weekend's game against Leeds United in fourth place, two points above Tottenham in the race for the Champions League. With just four games to go, it is poised to be a mouth-watering end to the season as the North London pair battle it out for a top four spot.
Although Arteta's main focus will be on the next fortnight, he has one eye already on the summer transfer window. Arsenal have one of the smallest squads in the division and will need to bolster their ranks to challenge domestically and in Europe next term, with Arteta well aware he needs to add more firepower in attack.
But as much as bringing players into the club is set to be important, keeping their prized assets is also crucial - whether they are successful in returning to European football's premier club competition or not. When asked about whether any of his players could potentially move on in a big money deal this summer, Arteta said: "What we want to do is improve the team and the squad. There’s not a player that can’t improve. We want to retain our best players for sure and add quality and depth.
"We have to be prepared for when we’re going to do that and why. We can control those timings. Sometimes it’s inevitable but we want to maintain our best players."
Will Arsenal finish in the top four this season? Let us know in the comments below!
It's no secret that the position Arsenal are set to prioritise this summer is up front. Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette are currently vying to be first choice, but are both out of contract at the end of the season; should both exit, that would leave the Gunners with no senior strikers in the squad, after Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang was allowed to leave on a free transfer in January when moving to Barcelona.
The Gabonese hitman was once a player who was firmly in Arteta's plans and it could be said he himself was 'untouchable' after he scored twice in the FA Cup final. But just 18 months later he departed, demonstrating how Arteta is willing to make ruthless decisions that may not be popular.
He isn't the only player to have been shown the exit door fairly quickly during the Spaniard's reign, with Willian, David Luiz and Matteo Guendouzi all departing when the manager decided he didn't want them around any more.
