22 players leave Arsenal as Mikel Arteta kicks off fresh bid to topple Man City

Arsenal have waved goodbye to as many as 22 players ahead of what's set to be a defining season for Mikel Arteta.

Having made significant progress in the last two years, the Gunners came even closer to pipping four-time champions Manchester City to the Premier League title last term and they'll be hoping that it's third time lucky in 2024-25. That challenge has started with making decisions on multiple first-team players who were approaching the end of their respective contracts.

Additionally, more than a dozen youth players had deals which expired on June 30, spelling the end of their long-term associations with the club. No first-team player had been with Arsenal for as long as Mohamed Elneny, who's been released after joining the Gunners under Arsenal Wenger in January 2016.

The Egyptian midfielder had impressed over a three-year spell with Swiss giants Basel, prompting Wenger and co spend more than £5million for his services. In a farewell message to supporters, 31-year-old Elneny said: "Gooners, I'm here today to send you a message and to say goodbye and thank you for everything you have done for me; the love, the support and the kindness. I am really going to miss you so much and you will be in my heart forever.

"I wanted to say how much I love you and how much you mean to me. I will never forget the way you supported me. I am going to see you on Sunday at Emirates Stadium to say goodbye face-to-face. See you, Gunners."

Meanwhile, right-back Cedric Soares has also seen his contract run down. The Portuguese, 32, was largely a fringe player during the Arteta era since initially arriving on loan from Southampton in January 2020.

Cedric had a fruitless loan spell with Fulham in the season before last and made just five appearances in the most recent campaign, one fewer than Elneny. "What a team and what a club," the versatile full-back, who was a starter during Portugal's Euro 2016 triumph, posted on social media.

"When I say a team, I mean exactly that, quality in every player, the professionalism that you show and the amazing human beings you guys are, so thank you! When I say club I mean all the departments, all the staff that is constantly putting all the hard hours on and off the pitch to make it possible to fight at the highest level.

"When I say club it also means its heart and with this I mean you guys, THE FANS, that made this journey so unreal and unforgettable. So to all the fans, I thank you! You will always have a special place in my heart!"

Elneny and Cedric were joined in leaving the Emirates by 20 players from the club's academy. Arsenal did want to keep at least two of them, though, with 19-year-old right-back Reuell Walters turning down the offer of a new contract in favour of pastures new.

Amario Cozier-Duberry, also 19, was another who rejected a new deal with the Gunners, as clubs in Germany, France, the Netherlands and Belgium are reportedly willing to fight it out for his signature. Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo has already sealed his next move, joining Wrexham permanently after enjoying a promotion-winning loan spell with the Hollywood-funded club last season.

Another youngster who recently tasted promotion is forward Kido Taylor-Hart, having spent the campaign with now former fifth-tier side Bromley. Taylor-Hart had spent a total of 13 years as an Arsenal player, just shy of the 14 Okonkwo had.

The 22 players who left Arsenal on June 30: Mohamed Elneny, Cedric Soares, Reuell Walters, Amario Cozier-Duberry, Kido Taylor-Hart, Arthur Okonkwo, Mauro Bandeira, Omari Benjamin, Luis Brown, Catalin Cirjan, Noah Cooper, Henry Davies, Ovie Ejeheri, Taylor Foran, Hubert Graczyk, James Hillson, Henry Jeffcott, Tyreece John-Jules, Alex Kirk, James Lannin-Sweet, Kamarni Ryan and Billy Vigar