Arsenal clearout: 10 players who could go

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Arsenal are reported to be getting their transfer plans into action for this summer. Could as many as 10 leave the club to make way for new arrivals?

Here are 10 players who will face an uncertain future. Which ones, if any, should Arsenal keep?

Manuel Almunia

The Spaniard is out of contract at the end of this season, and it looks certain that it will not be renewed. If it is, it would be a major shock. Arsenal tried to sell him last summer, but could find nobody to match their asking price, and spent a short period of this season on loan at West Ham.

Vito Mannone

The young goalkeeper is on loan at Hull City, where he has made 16 appearances. He once looked like a promising prospect for Arsenal, but when given a chance away to Olympiakos this year put in a disastrous performance. Whether he stays or not is 50-50, but it is fair to say his future is up in the air, and he still has a lot of convincing to do.

Lukas Fabianski

The third goalkeeper on this list, Fabianski is Arsenal’s number two, and has improved since his dodgy keeper tag, but still fills supporters with nerves whenever he is on the pitch. As a Polish international, he is likely to want first team football at club level. If he wants it, he will have to move on, as Wojciech Szczesny is not going anywhere. Arsenal should not stand in his way. Letting all three goalkeepers go would allow them to sign a more reliable number two and promote young James Shea to number three.

Sebastien Squillaci

The Frenchman’s contract does not expire until summer 2013, but fans will be especially keen to see the defender leave the Emirates. He has proved a liability one too many times for supporters liking, and has barely featured this season as it is. With Wenger looking at bringing in one more centre-back for next season, Squillaci would find himself further frozen out if he chose to stay.

Park Chu-Young

Fans would love to see the South Korean be given a proper chance, but it does not seem likely he will get it at this rate. If Arsenal strengthen their attack as predicted, by signing Lukas Podolski, he will get even less opportunities. There will be pressure from his homeland for him to be playing regular football, which would mean leaving Arsenal.

Marouane Chamakh

Signed on a free, many fans feel Chamakh is pretty worthless to them right now. The striker has scored just one goal this season, and it seems Wenger has given up on him. Italian side Fiorentina have been linked with him, and if the club can get any sort of fee for the player, they will at least, have made a profit on an unsuccessful two years.

Denilson

Midfielder Denilson was a player many supporters expected to be sold last summer. Instead he was loaned to Brazilian side Sao Paolo, where he has made just 11 appearances. His last season at the Emirates was not a good one, and supporters would not notice if he never pulls on a first team shirt again.

Nicklas Bendtner

At the start of last summer, Bendtner’s agent was pushing for a move to top European sides Roma and Sporting Lisbon. Instead he ended up making to make a desperate transfer day loan to Sunderland. He has had a fairly average time, and not made Arsenal think they are missing out, and he is all set to leave permanently this summer.

Carlos Vela

Arsenal’s forgotten man, Vela was around sixth choice striker at the Emirates, before being sent out on loan for the umpteenth time. The Mexican’s latest loan club is Real Sociedad, where he has been all season, and just this week the side have been linked with a £3.5 million permanent move.

Andrei Arshavin

The Russian’s career at Arsenal has been a big disappointment, after arriving with so much expectation. He is currently on loan back at former club Zenit St Petersburg, and Arsenal have not missed him. Ryo Miyaichi will be in Arsenal’s first team squad next season as a ready made replacement, and the club will proactively look to sell Arshavin permanently when his loan expires.

Also facing an uncertain future: Loan signing Yossi Benayon. Is he worth signing permanently, or should the club look for a younger player in his position?

image: © Ronnie Macdonald