Mikel Arteta 'set to get rid of FIVE stars.

---

Arsenal are likely to get rid of five players this summer as Mikel Arteta oversees a serious overhaul of his squad, according to reports.

The Gunners manager – who was the first Premier League figure to test positive for COVID-19 – will have his first summer transfer window in charge at the end of the current season.

And, according to Football.London, he has identified five squad members he is willing to move on.

Arteta brought in defender Pablo Mari on loan in the January window – with Cedric Soares also joining on a temporary deal – and the Spaniard is likely to make his move from Flamengo permanent.

Cedric is not likely to make his move permanent, and he could be followed out of the door by Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis Papasthathopoulos.

Mustafi has been close to the exit before, although he has become a more impressive figure under Arteta's guidance.

The report states, though, that there is a belief it would be for the best if the former Sampdoria and Valencia man moved on.

Sokratis, meanwhile, might move on because he is 32 and this is an opportunity to cash in on him, while William Saliba will be returning from his loan at St-Etienne.

Left-back Sead Kolasinac has also been tipped to leave, with Kieran Tierney and Bukayo Saka the options in his position.

And Mohamed Elneny and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who have spent the season on loan at Besiktas and Roma respectively – would make up the group of five who might leave to fund other business.