Bernd Leno has issued an emphatic response to speculation claiming he is one of six first team stars who will be allowed to leave Arsenal this summer.
Beleaguered manager Mikel Arteta is intent on overseeing a dramatic overhaul of a squad which is staring down the barrel of a first season without European football since 1995/6.
The Gunners are mired in mid-table ahead of Wednesday’s daunting trip to Stamford Bridge, while their hopes of salvaging a miserable campaign by winning the Europa League were dashed last Thursday following a drab, goalless stalemate against Villarreal.
Arteta is said to retain the backing of the club’s owners and planning is already underway ahead of what is likely to be an unprecedented summer of transfer activity at the Emirates.
Leno joined Arsenal in the summer of 2018 and has established himself as the club’s No.1 by first ousting Petr Cech, before winning his battle with Emi Martinez who was sold to Aston Villa last summer.
The Germany international has just over two years remaining on his current contract but is said to be among a clutch of players who will be made available for transfer this summer.
Responding to those reports, Leno told Sky Sports: ‘I am still happy at Arsenal. Arsenal is still a big club, a big name in the world and in the Premier League.
‘There is nobody in the dressing room who says ‘I want to leave the club, I am not happy here anymore’.
‘We still have a good environment at the club and in the dressing room. Of course, at times it was not easy this season, but this is part of football.
‘It’s not good to feel sorry for ourselves, we need to move forward and change it to a positive as soon as possible.’
Arsenal, meanwhile, are likely to sign Mat Ryan on a permanent basis from Brighton following a successful loan spell, while they have also been linked with a cut-price £7million move Ajax’s Andre Onana.
MORE : Arsenal battling Man City, AC Milan and Monaco for Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand on free transfer
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from metro.co.uk
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