Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has officially confirmed that Kieran Tierney, Jorginho, Neto, and Raheem Sterling will be leaving the club this summer as part of a squad refresh. The Gunners have been without a major trophy for five consecutive seasons and are looking to make changes to the team.
In their final Premier League match of the season against Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium, Arsenal saw Tierney score in the 43rd minute, only for Ross Stewart to equalize in the 56th minute. However, Martin Odegaard managed to score the winning goal for the Gunners in the 90th minute.
After the game, Arteta expressed his gratitude towards the departing players, stating, “It was important to win it, it was important as well to say goodbye to a few players who have left our football club, to say thank you for their contribution. Some of them, like Kieran, they’ve been on this journey for six years with us. Jorginho, we’re trying to hug him, Neto and Raheem as well.”
Sterling and Neto, who were on loan from Chelsea and Bournemouth, respectively, will be returning to their parent clubs. Jorginho is set to join Flamengo, while Tierney has been linked with a potential move back to Celtic.
Looking back at the 2024-25 season, Arteta praised his Arsenal side for their efforts in challenging for the Premier League title once again. Despite finishing as runners-up, the Gunners were 10 points behind champions Liverpool. They were also knocked out in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals by Paris Saint-Germain.
In domestic cup competitions, Arsenal faced defeats against Newcastle United in the EFL Cup semi-finals and Manchester United in the FA Cup third round. Arteta reflected on the season, saying, “It’s time to reflect, time to reset, and get our energy back. It’s been a really demanding season, a season that has stretched us all.”
Looking ahead, Arsenal’s pre-season will kick off in July with confirmed fixtures against AC Milan and Newcastle United in Singapore, as well as a clash against rivals Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong.
As the Gunners prepare for the upcoming season, the departure of key players will pave the way for new signings and fresh talent to strengthen the squad. Arsenal fans will be eager to see how the team evolves under Arteta’s guidance as they aim to challenge for silverware in the future.
