At least three key Arsenal players reportedly wanted to leave Arsenal in the summer, Independent reports.
This is a huge task for Mikel Arteta to convince them to stay, after reportedly signed a contract with the Gunners and will be unveil as Arsenal manager soon.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the biggest name who wants exit, as he want a better challenge for the top trophies.
Alexandre Lacazette and Granit Xhaka are also reportedly considering their future as they pondered on the lack of direction at the club, despite the appointment of Arteta.
In the report, Arsenal originally plan to buy some time with the appointment of Freddie Ljungberg but that plan is out of window after it was told that too many of the players didn’t care, and that was unlikely to change until a permanent managerial appointment was made.
Another problem for Arteta is that Arsenal does not have a huge transfer fund like the rest of “Big Six” and the fact that they are not going to qualify for Champions League or even Europa League anytime soon.
This has been persists since at the end of Arsene Wenger era as they lose their best player who refused to sign a new deal.
It is understandable for Aubameyang to leave, since he is 30 and no longer in the phase of building a team together with the club, instead he should be winning trophies every year.
With Arsenal not having a transfer fund to sign new players, selling their best player could be the only way to move forward.