Arsenal are preparing for a huge summer ahead, where the transfer window could help them close the gap on rivals Manchester City for next season. The Gunners have implemented plenty of work in their three-years under Mikel Arteta that resulted in a title push this campaign.
While the north London side showed they are competitive once again, setting a pace that was tough to catch early on, they dropped off from that and will finish second. Once the team return to action in August, there will be the weight of expectation on their shoulders once again, with transfers expected to take the side to the next level.
When discussing the business ahead, Arteta told Sky Sports: "They are always tough decisions, whether it's to recruit, or other decisions. Some players sometimes don't want to continue with us, some staff members. It's always tough, especially when you have good relationships with those individuals, but we are here to win. That's the purpose of everybody at the club. We have to win and to win we have to do it in our way and to do that we have to make decisions."
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It means that decisions regarding squad balance will be key, with signing players, keeping some and letting others leave as well. football.london understands that Reiss Nelson is set to sign a new contract with the Gunners that'll extend his deal by four-years, with his current one expiring this summer.
That decision could lead to another tough choice to make in the squad this summer as GOAL's Charles Watts believes it could open the door to an exit for Emile Smith Rowe. The Hale End academy product has struggled this season with injuries that has kept him out of action, while he has rarely featured from the bench.
Speaking on his Youtube channel, Watts said: "The end is nigh for Smith Rowe or appears nigh whether or not Nelson stays or he goes... It's tough to come to any other conclusion than he's a potential player who could leave this summer."
It remains to be seen whether that will be the case for the 22-year-old, who faces a crossroads this summer over his future at the Emirates Stadium.
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