Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has four players playing for their Gunners futures in pre-season

Arsenal are weighing up the futures of four of the club’s recent academy graduates. Mikel Arteta’s summer overhaul of the Arsenal squad could see all four of Joe Willock, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson leave the club, per reports.

The Gunners are attempting to refresh their squad with up to five further signings this summer, as Arteta looks to build a squad capable of lifting Arsenal back to the top tier of English football.

Arsenal chiefs are believed to be willing to spend as much as £250million to secure their preferred targets.

And midfield options Albert Sambi Lokonga, Yves Bissouma and James Maddison, Norwich full-back Max Aarons and Brighton centre-half Ben White are all of interest to Arsenal.

Those five players are all also under 25, fitting the preferred profile of the club’s transfer targets, as they prioritise players with growth and sell-on value.

But bringing in such a profile of player could impact on the club’s recent academy graduates, who are all keen for regular first-time opportunities.

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Arsenal will want to get their squad set as quickly as possible as they face a tough start to the new Premier League season.

The Gunners visit top-tier newbies Brentford on the opening weekend before back-to-back games against the league’s strongest sides – European champions Chelsea and defending Premier League champions Manchester City.

The mood around the Emirates could sour quickly with a poor start to the campaign, with the fans restless after a disappointing eighth-place finish last time out.