Arsenal confirm 19 exits including two veterans as Mikel Arteta looks to reshape squad

Arsenal will wave goodbye to 19 players, including Mohamed Elneny and Cedric Soares, when their contracts expire at the end of June.

Egyptian midfielder Elneny, who has been with the Gunners since his arrival from Basel in 2016, alongside Portuguese full-back Soares, who joined in 2020 from Southampton, will be free to find a new club as of June 30.

The shake-up comes as manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu look to reshape the squad after another year narrowly missing out on the Premier League title to Manchester City.

Despite being one of the longest-serving players within the Arsenal squad, having made 161 appearances across all competitions for the club, 31-year-old Elneny featured just six times this season in midfield.

Soares, likewise, has endured a challenging season following minimal game time. After playing just six times too this season, he will seek more regular opportunities elsewhere.

The club have also decided against a new contract offer to Arthur Okonkwo, the 22-year-old goalkeeper who was recently on loan at Wrexham. Discussing his future steps last month with Mirror Football, he said: “It’s been an incredible journey, from joining at the age of eight, I’m now 22 and I’ve been there for 15 years which has been brilliant because I’ve worked with amazing people, from the academy to the first-team.

“It’s a bittersweet moment because I have to start a new chapter as I’ve had so many great years at Arsenal but, in the last two years, I need to keep playing and carry on my journey. I’m still really ambitious to play at international level. I can still play for England or Nigeria and I’ve not made a choice yet.

“I think, at 22, you are still young as a ‘keeper and to have played this much, had so much experience can only help because my position is probably a lot tougher than people think.”

Arsenal continue negotiations with attacking midfielder Amario Cozier-Duberry, goalkeeper Karl Hein and defender Reuell Walters over potential contract extensions.

Mirror Football reported last month that Walters was set to depart the Gunners after turning down a new offer. The 19-year-old centre-back believes he is ready for regular first team football, which Arsenal cannot guarantee.

Full list of released players:

Mauro Bandeira, Omari Benjamin, Luis Brown, Catalin Cirjan, Noah Cooper, Henry Davies, Ovie Ejeheri,Mohamed Elneny, Taylor Foran, Hubert Graczyk, James Hillson, Henry Jeffcott, Tyreece John-Jules, Alex Kirk, James Lannin-Sweet, Arthur Okonkwo, Kamarni Ryan, Cedric Soares, Kido Taylor-Hart.