Arteta admits Arsenal may sell players before transfer deadline

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has acknowledged the possibility of player departures before the transfer window deadline, while asserting that the squad is currently well-positioned for the new season.

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It’s always the case; there’s an opportunity there to go both ways, and we’ll have to see how the market responds and what we as a club can do.

Speaking at a pre-Community Shield press conference, Arteta indicated that Arsenal is open to "opportunities in both directions" as they aim to enhance the team. He described the transfer window as an "exciting part of the season" that allows clubs to "evolve" and assess player sentiments. The club's ambition is to be in the "best possible condition" to compete for every available trophy.

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It’s a very exciting part of the season, when a lot of things happen,” he said, adding “I think you create excitement; there’s an opportunity as well to evolve. There’s also a good way to understand what every player is feeling.

When questioned about potential player sales, Arteta confirmed that "certain possibilities" are being explored. He noted that while the current numbers are satisfactory, "certain players will probably have to move." However, he declined to comment on specific transfer rumors linking Arsenal to individual defenders.

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We have certain possibilities that we can explore if the right possibilities come across. But so far, with the numbers we have, we are happy; obviously, we need to accept that certain players will probably have to move.

Arteta reiterated the club's "big" ambition to improve and evolve the squad, identifying areas that require strengthening. He also suggested that recruitment efforts would be influenced by the existing squad's ability to elevate its performance. Regarding young player Ethan Nwaneri, Arteta expressed a desire for him to remain at the club but stressed the importance of regular playing time for his development.

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I’m not going to talk about any individuals obviously. What I can tell you is the ambition of the club, it’s big, we want to improve the squad, we want to evolve the squad, and in order to achieve that, we have obviously detected some areas that can be strengthened.