Mikel Arteta warned £50m Arsenal star could ask for transfer due to squad role

Arsenal's squad depth could leave some stars considering their futures after the Gunners' summer signings increased competition for places under head coach Mikel Arteta

Some of Arsenal's stars will be considering leaving the club as the competition for places heats up, according to one former Gunners forward.

And Alan Smith reckons the likes of Ben White will be forced to think long and hard about their position in Mikel Arteta's plans as the Spaniard goes in search of a Premier League title. The north London side worked hard to add more depth to their squad this summer as they aim to improve upon their three consecutive second-place finishes.

Arsenal added the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke in attack, in addition to Martin Zubimendi, Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie. Smith has suggested that White may be one figure considering his future amid Dutch star Jurrien Timber's impressive form, with the former Ajax defender making the right-back berth his own.

White has yet to appear in the Premier League this term and has made just two appearances in all. And Smith reckons the ex-Leeds and Brighton star will have to weigh up his situation against Arsenal's progress - and he won't be alone in doing so.

"When you’ve got such a strong squad, you will have players who aren’t getting regular games," Smith told The Metro. "Some of them will be thinking, 'Maybe it’s time for a move', you don’t want to lose them but it’s hard to keep them all happy.

"It all depends on Ben and how he feels about the situation. He might be thinking he wants to get his fair share of games somewhere but he’s also at a club that’s going places.

"We’ll have to wait and see on that one, it’s obviously down to the individuals, but Jurrien Timber is getting the nod at the moment. Ben White’s had his injury concerns, but he did have a really good relationship with Bukayo Saka, which maybe Timber hasn’t quite developed just yet."

New signing Zubimendi has revealed that the Gunners have looked to add depth after injury issues of the past. He told the Guardian: "From what teammates have said to me, the problem was the injuries, that when someone got injured, the team came undone.

“This year the club has invested a lot in having two players in every position."