Arsenal weigh up difficult summer sales

Arsenal’s first Premier League title in 22 years has not softened the club’s ambition. After finally returning to the summit of English football, Mikel Arteta and the club’s hierarchy are already looking at how to build a squad capable of defending the title and going one step further in Europe.

The need for fresh investment, however, could bring difficult decisions. According to Metro’s report, Arsenal may be prepared to listen to offers for Martin Ødegaard if the right bid arrives.

That would represent a significant shift. Ødegaard has been one of the defining players of Arteta’s reign: a captain, a creative leader and a central figure in the club’s return to the top. But Arsenal’s pursuit of further attacking quality means the squad could be reshaped more aggressively than expected.

Merson questions Ødegaard’s future

Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has suggested that the club may at least be considering a sale, even if the idea remains difficult to imagine.

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As quoted by Joe Williams in Football365, Merson called the prospect “madness”, but argued that there would still be serious interest in Ødegaard if Arsenal made him available.

His point was not that Ødegaard lacks quality. Rather, Merson questioned whether Arsenal’s attack has always had the pace and directness needed to make full use of the Norwegian’s passing and vision.

Eze gives Arteta another creative option

Ødegaard’s position has also been affected by the arrival of Eberechi Eze, who joined Arsenal from Crystal Palace last summer and has given Arteta another high-level option between the lines.

Eze’s ability to carry the ball, play vertically and operate across the attacking midfield positions has added a different dimension to Arsenal’s forward play. That depth does not make Ødegaard expendable, but it does give Arsenal more flexibility if they receive a major offer.

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There are also fitness concerns to consider. Ødegaard’s September 2024 ankle injury was widely reported as ligament damage rather than a fracture, and his 2025/26 campaign was interrupted by several issues, including knee, muscle and shoulder problems. Those setbacks limited his rhythm at key stages of the season.

Arsenal target more firepower

Arteta’s priority is understood to be further improvement in attack. Miguel Delaney reported in The Independent that Arsenal are looking into a move for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, while Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Atletico Madrid forward Julián Alvarez have also been linked with the club.

Barcola would bring pace and one-v-one threat from wide areas, while Rogers would add Premier League-proven versatility. Alvarez, if attainable, would represent a major statement signing in the centre-forward market.

Those deals would not come cheaply. That is why Arsenal are expected to consider offers for some senior players, with Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Christian Nørgaard among those whose futures have attracted attention.

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A sale would carry major risk

Selling Ødegaard would still be a gamble. He remains under contract, is trusted by Arteta and continues to offer control, leadership and creativity in midfield. Replacing those qualities would be far from straightforward, even with a large fee.

For Arsenal, the question is whether sentiment can survive a summer in which the club wants to move from champions to serial winners. Ødegaard’s future may ultimately depend on the size of any offer, and on whether Arteta believes his team can evolve without the captain who helped bring the title back to north London.

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