Arsenal have confirmed the list of players being released when their contracts come to an end tomorrow.
Of the 12 names on the list, first team departures include, Per Mertesacker, Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla.
The BFG is our new Academy manager, Wilshere is looking for a new club – possibly Fenerbahce? – having turned down a chance to stay, while Santi is training with Villarreal in the hope of resurrecting his career after 18 months out injured.
Recognisable amongst the youngsters are the likes of Vlad Dragomir, a mainstay in the under-23s last season, and Yassin Fortune, who joined from Lens at the same time as The Jeff.
Our resident Arsenal youth expert, Jeorge Bird, reported in June that Dragomir and Fortune were both offered new deals, so we can only assume they’ve turned down the chance to make a name for themselves at the Emirates.
Marc Bola
Santi Cazorla
Alex Crean
Vlad Dragomir
Aaron Eyoma
Yassin Fortune
Ryan Huddart
Chiori Johnson
Hugo Keto
Per Mertesacker
Tafari Moore
Jack Wilshere
In addition, the club have confirmed that professional contracts have been signed by teenagers Daniel Ballard, Dominic Thompson and Robbie Burton, while contract extensions have been penned by Deyan Iliev and Tolaji Bola.
It’s also a big day for eight other Academy prospects who’ve signed as scholars for the season ahead. Congratulations to Ryan Alebiousu, Ben Cottrell, Matthew Dennis, Stanley Flaherty, Alfie Matthews, Bukayo Saka, Thomas Smith and Joshua Martin.
It’s expected the club will announce the arrival of Sokratis from Borussia Dortmund in the next couple of days.
Dragomir? Thought he was quite highly rated.
Read the article – he was offered a new deal but ‘turned down’ the chance…
That was referring to Wilshere
Kelly suggest you read it again
his agent today said that they are still in talks with Arsenal over a new deal, and that he did not care what list was announced on .com
I hope so, he’s really good and I was looking forward to seeing him progress to the first team, he’s one that I have big hopes for.
No big surprises, hope the youngsters do well wherever they move onto.
Santi, Per and Jack will be well remembered for what they have done for the club.
Adios Santi ? My favourite Arsenal player since 2012, a real joy to watch and certainly Arsenal Greatest player at the Emirates to date.
Wilshere must not leave he must F off. And take ospina
Have school holidays started early?
Haha. Brilliant. Thanks for the chuckle.
the nickname says it all….
Not need.
Santi at West Ham (3-1). Santi at Man City (2-0). The North (London) Remembers.
it would be a crime if u forgot santi’s contribution for our 1st trophy in ages!!!
It was a crime!
-Arrest him!
That moment will be replayed over and over again in every Arsenal compilation youtube video for the rest of time.
The responsibility lies with us, those who witnessed it, to tell the tales of the other less-glamorous times when the Smiling Spanish Magician carried us through dark winter away matches where a negative result was most often a long foregone conclusion.
And the Santi Cazorla song that’s chanted all througout the stadium. That would definitely be a miss!
That left peg strike against West Ham..The day Santi showed us a footballer can be perfectly two footed.
FFS Not Tafari!
He wanted moore game time
“Your coat Sir. It will stay there in the corner with your hat and the other legendary commentary quips like “wiltoooOOOOOOOoord!”
He had to shake that Laffy Tafari.
Spurs apparently interested in Jack…if that somehow happens,ooooh boy.
That would actually be some funny shit! Sol or Jack??
Sol of course but still if somehow out of the blue jack makes a U-turn regarding his opinion about that lot and join them,It will hurt,really hurt.
Can you imagine the Spuds’ reaction?
Probably somewhere around what would have happened here if our board had appointed Tony Pulis as manager…
Not even in jest! We speak not of the tracksuited orc king
He would never. What do we think of Tottenham? What do we think of shit? I rest my case.
Why tafari?
Can’t believe we’ve got rid of the singer of T Rex 🙁
How anyone could downrate that, I will never understand…
what about armstrong okoflex and Arthur Okonkwo, recent reports suggest that both have signed on as scholars this season
What’s up with Cohen Brammal?
Stanley Flaherty and Alfie Matthews. Good news for the Arsenal Gentleman….
What is the deal with Mustafi?