Szczesny & Vermaelen Tipped For Exit As Wenger Plans Summer Overhaul

Despite the transfer window being closed there is still plenty of gossip doing the rounds in the newspapers so we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest transfer rumours. Today, Wojciech Szczesny and Thomas Vermaelen are tipped to leave Arsenal this summer.

Wojciech Szczesny and Thomas Vermaelen could be set to leave Arsenal at the end of the season as boss Arsene Wenger plans to re-shape his squad this summer., according to the Daily Mail.

Szczesny was surprisingly dropped for Wednesday nights crucial Champions League second leg away at Bayern Munich with Wenger opting to bring in Lukasz Fabianski – who hadn’t played a first team game in over a year.

The boss said the young Pole had been ‘rested’ due to concerns over the mental pressure he’s under but the Mail claim Wenger has told Szczesny he’s been ‘hugely disappointed’ with his recent displays and is now fighting to save his Arsenal future.

The newspaper suggests a new number one is Arsene’s top priority this summer with Stoke’s Asmir Begovic, Sunderland’s Simon Mignolet and Liverpool’s Pepe Reina all lined up as potential targets. However, it’s understood that after spending over two years as Arsenal’s first choice, Szczesny won’t settle for being demoted to the bench next season leaving his future at the club in serious doubt.

There’s no doubt Szczesny’s form has been disappointing this season and his display’s certainly haven’t justified his over-confident attitude. But I’d be sad to see him leave this summer without being given time to develop further. He’s only 22-years-old afterall and is still learning his trade. It’s not his fault he was drafted in to replace Manuel Almunia at such a young age.

I would like to see an older, more experienced keeper come this summer in to help Wojciech and push his for the first team jersey. If someone like Begovic comes in, who’s just three years older, then it spells the end for Szczesny at Arsenal if you ask me.

However, it’s not just Szczesny who’s future in north London is under scrutiny, with the Mail also claiming that Thomas Vermaelen could be heading for the exit door this summer as well with Wenger understood to have finally lost  patience with his captains below-par displays.

Vermaelen was also dropped against Muninch and his replacement Laurent Koscielny put in a MOTM performance alongside Per Mertesacker. The pair deserve to keep their places in the starting eleven against Swansea this weekend and if they continue their impressive partnership during the run-in, it’s going to be difficult to see where the Belgian fits in.

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The Mail suggest he could be on his way out this summer with Barcelona a potential destination with the boss believed to be preparing for a summer of change at the Emirates, starting at the back.

What do you think, do Arsenal need to sign a new No.1? Does Vermaelen deserve to be dropped? Leave your opinions in the comments section below.