Arsenal have provided clarity over the futures of Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles but there's still a lot of work to do before Mikel Arteta finalises his first-team squad for the 2023/24 season.
The latter, who spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan at Southampton, revealed in April that he was set to leave the Gunners upon the expiry of his contract at the end of this month and there was official confirmation of his imminent departure - alongside 12 other players across the men's and women's first-team squad as well as the U23s and U18s - on Friday morning.
And in a pre-recorded message, Maitland-Niles bid an emotional farewell as his long association with his boyhood club comes to an end: "Words can’t describe how I’m feeling to be honest, it’s been a very emotional journey," he said. "Having supported the club growing up and coming through the ranks, I can only be happy with what I’ve achieved since I’ve been here.
