Arsenal putting 10 players up for sale as Mikel Arteta shows his ruthless side

Arsenal are reportedly willing to allow up to 10 players to leave the club this summer as Mikel Arteta puts his stamp on the Gunners squad.

Arteta will be starting his first full season in charge of the club, having been appointed as Unai Emery's successor last December.

The Gunners will begin their campaign with the Community Shield against Premier League champions Liverpool next Saturday, before they start their league season away at Fulham on the weekend of September 12.

The Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes remains a top transfer target for Arsenal this summer, and he is expected to sign despite late interest from Manchester United, with The Times claiming that there will be a mass exodus at the Emirates to go along with his and other new arrivals.

They say that four defenders will be allowed to leave the club in the wake of Gabriel's arrival, including both Rob Holding and Calum Chambers, the latter of whom spent the 2018/19 season on loan at Fulham.

Four midfielders have reportedly also been transfer-listed, including Matteo Guendouzi after he fell out with Arteta, and two forwards are also set to be allowed to depart to balance the books.

One man who would be happy to see those defensive departures is former Gunners star Charlie Nicholas, who spoke of the need to shift out some deadwood at the club.

"I don't think it's overly difficult for me to say who should go," he told Sky Sports News. "Gabriel must come in - would he be a good signing? Yes.

"But [Shkodran] Mustafi will be sold. He's injured just now but he will be sold, he has to go. Sokratis I think will say: 'At my stage, I have to go'.

"Rob Holding, nothing against him, I don't think Arsenal's helped him. It was the wrong move at the wrong time for the lad. I think if the right offer comes in, he'll go.

"And obviously Calum Chambers, who has been in and out of the club unbelievable amounts of times, will have to go for his own sake, rather than his long-term future at Arsenal - it doesn't exist.

"So they'll be four out, you get the money in, you replace it."