The Gunners have been on a mission this summer of doing away with players who have just been warming the benches and getting paid a healthy amount of money in wages. Arsenal are looking to lighten their wage bill and to make room for potential new signings.

As a result, they have already sold or released the likes of Andrei Arshavin, Sebastian Squilacci, Denilson and Andre Santos who were all on a very decent pay package and were the club’s fringe players. This has freed up a massive portion of their wage bill which will enable them to redirect these towards new incoming players.

Manager Arsene Wenger does not want to stop there as he is set to continue his offloading spree and is close to completing deals for Gervinho and Chamakh within the next 48 hours. Ivorian international Gervinho is already in Rome ahead of his permanent move to Italian outfit Roma. The winger is believed to be currently undergoing a medical there ahead of joining up with his new team-mates.

Chamakh too is nearing a move to Premier League newcomers Crystal Palace, however this deal is more likely to be a temporary loan deal for a season. The Moroccan striker has spent 3 years at the Emirates Stadium and spent the latter half of last season on loan with West Ham after he disappointingly fell down the pecking order at Arsenal following a very promising start to his career with the Gunners.

Wenger has confirmed the news for the duo as he was quoted by The Evening Standard as saying, “Gervinho is on a good way to Roma and Chamakh is on a good way to Crystal Palace.”

With Arsenal set to further free up space in their squad, it is only natural to assume that they will bring in some replacments. The question is though, who do you see replacing them at the London club for next season?