5 Players Arsenal Should Clear out in 2015 Summer Transfer Window

Arsenal currently have their deepest squad for many years. If they want to strengthen in the forthcoming transfer window, they will need to make room by staging something of a clear-out.

It's nothing to do with finances; Arsenal are on a stronger economic footing than they have been for many years. The issue is that Arsene Wenger has to name a 25-man squad for the Premier League, and at present, there simply isn't room for any supplementary talent.

In this piece, we take a look at the Arsenal squad and identify five players the club could afford to lose this summer.

Lukas Podolski

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Having failed to impress during his loan spell with Inter Milan, it's very difficult to see Lukas Podolski finding a place in the Arsenal squad.

When he returns to London this summer, he will find the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ahead of him in the queue for a wide-forward role. Podolski's time as an Gunner is surely drawing to a close. According to reports in the Times (h/t the Daily Star), his most likely destination is Galatasaray.

Joel Campbell

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Another forward who has endured an uninspiring loan spell since January, Joel Campbell will surely be on the move this summer.

Although he signed a new contract before sealing his temporary move to Villarreal, that may merely have been a ploy to ensure Arsenal receive a decent fee for Campbell's services come the summer. According to Spanish radio station Cadena SER (h/t HITC Sport), the Costa Rica international is a target for Real Sociedad.

Mathieu Flamini

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Mathieu Flamini may have told talkSPORT that he is content to remain at Arsenal, but the decision may be taken out of his hands.

With Francis Coquelin and Mikel Arteta more important to Arsene Wenger's plans, Flamini may be ushered toward the exit door this summer.

Ryo Miyaichi

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Ryo Miyaichi was once feted as a future star at Arsenal. However, his time with the club is surely about to end.

He spent this season on loan at Twente in the Netherlands, and the Gunners may well be hoping the Eredivisie club attempt to make the move permanent.

Abou Diaby

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Poor Abou Diaby. His contract expires this summer, and given that he made just one senior start in 2014/15, it's difficult to see the club offering him a new one.

He has had terrible misfortune with injuries, but the painful reality is that Arsenal can no longer afford to give a squad place to a player who makes such a minimal contribution.