Morning all.
It’s that time of year when behind the scenes at Arsenal Football Club and players decide to part company. Some are probably told their services are no longer required while others make the decision for themselves. Occasionally, the grass appears greener elsewhere but that’s life in football as we fans know only too well, especially during the second half of Arsene Wenger’s time at the club and as Man City came into money.
As far as the men’s side of the club go, I think we all have a list of players we would like to see leave and be replaced by better, I know I do.
First out the traps as far as exits go though is from the women’s side of the club as yesterday it was announced that Beth Mead will be leaving Arsenal this summer, nine years after joining the club in 2017. 263 appearances, 86 goals, one WSL title, three League Cups, one FIFA Champions Cup and one UEFA Women’s Champions League. Add to those achievements a WSL youngest Golden Boot winner in 2015 at the age of 20 and European Champions winners medal with England in 2022 & 2025. Mead had a fantastic competition in 2022, picking up not only the Golden Boot award but the UEFA Player of the Tournament award too. It didn’t end there for Mead in 2022 because she was voted BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year and England’s Player of the Year and lastly, BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
I’m exhausted just typing all of that….
Arsenal’s Director of Women’s Football, Clare Wheatley, said:
Beth has made a huge contribution to our football club over nine years, and will go down in history as one of our best forwards and a legend of the club. Beth is such a special person and will always be welcome at Arsenal. I know our supporters will join me in wishing Beth happiness and success in her future endeavours.
Watching an Arsenal women’s team without Beth Mead being involved will be strange but wherever life takes her next, I wish nothing but the best for her.
Also leaving this summer is Laia Codina who joined from Barcelona in the summer of 2023. She leaves with a Champions League, Champions Cup and League Cup winners medal in her pocket.
As often is the case, things come in threes and the third women’s departure is Victoria Pelova who joined us in January 2023 and leaves with the same medals as Codina.
On the men’s side of the club, according to TransferMarket, there are no players on contracts which expire this summer but five whose contracts expire next year. Reiss Nelson, Gabriel Martinelli, Christian Norgaard, Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard. Both Norgaard and Martinelli have one year extension options. Piero Hincapie’s current loan deal will be made permanent this summer. Jakub Kiwior has already made his deal at Porto permanent for a fee just less than we paid for him if add ons are to be considered.
Personally, I believe Jesus and Norgaard are likely to be sold but after that, I’ve no idea what the club are planning. Who you and I might want to see moved on is probably quite different to the thoughts of Mikel Arteta and the club.
Catch up in the comments.
