Arsenal 'could axe 10 first team players' to fund Mikel Arteta's summer spending spree

Arsenal could sell up to 10 first team players to fund a summer spending spree for manager Mikel Arteta, it has been reported.

The Gunners' Premier League title hopes were all but ended as a result of Sunday's 3-0 defeat at home to Brighton, with Manchester City closing in on their third consecutive league crown.

Arsenal led the table for much of the campaign, however, and it has been an impressive season for Arteta and his side.

But City's added quality and squad depth eventually told in the end, and it would take a shock run of results for them to not win the title.

The Gunners have already been linked with major signings this summer, with the Daily Mail's Sami Mokbel claiming earlier this month that West Ham star Declan Rice is a priority target for Arteta.

They are also reportedly keen on making a fresh bid to sign Brighton's Moises Caicedo, who produced a starring display in the 3-0 win over the Gunners on Sunday.

And a fresh report states that they could sell a large number of players to fund those bids.

Arsenal 'could sell 10 players this summer'

According to The Times, Arsenal could move on up to 10 first team players in order to launch bids for Rice, Caicedo and other stars in the upcoming transfer window.

One of those players - Ainsley Maitland-Niles - will definitely leave the club, with his contract expiring this summer. The 25-year-old has already confirmed that he will depart the Emirates Stadium.

It is added that Arsenal will likely look to move on current loan quartet Folarin Balogun, Cedric Soares, Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga, while squad players Kieran Tierney, Rob Holding and Emile Smith Rowe could also exit.

The more surprising potential exit, however, is that of one of the club's senior midfielders. The Times claim that Arteta could 'sacrifice' either Thomas Partey or Granit Xhaka, with the latter reportedly attracting interest from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.

Eddie Nketiah's future is also said to be in doubt, given the emergence of Leandro Trossard.

Xhaka's exit would end a seven-year spell at Arsenal that has been accompanied by ups and downs, but the Swiss international has been one of the Gunners' key players this season in a more advanced role.

With a year left on his contract, however, Arteta may decide to cash in on the 30-year-old this summer.