Mikel Arteta hints at mass exodus at Arsenal in January with Kolasinac first to leave

Arsenal are set to begin their January clearout by loaning Sead Kolasinac to Schalke, as boss Mikel Arteta acknowledged that the club must move on a series of big names.

Defender Kolasinac is close to sealing a return to his former club in what Arsenal hope will be the first of a number of loan moves they can agree for under-used players this month.

The Bosnian has only started one Premier League game this season, with his other seven starts coming in the EFL Cup and Europa League.

Mikel Arteta confirmed that big changes will be occurring at Arsenal in the January window

Kolasinac joined Arsenal on a free transfer from Schalke in 2017, where he made 94 league appearances in five years with the Bundesliga club.

Arteta would not confirm Kolasinac’s impending exit but said: ‘We are working on a couple of things and obviously the window is going to bring a lot of news. 

‘We’ve had some conversations around a few players and whether we can find some loans because the numbers we have in the squad at the moment are really big.

Sead Kolasinac is set to be one of the first stars to leave and secure a loan return to Schalke

Arsenal also remain open to offers for Shkodran Mustafi and hope to move the German on

‘We have a large squad. We knew that. A lot of things that should have happened in the summer we could not accomplish them for different reasons. 

‘There are a lot of players that are going to go on loan. 

‘They are going to leave. And that’s the priority at the moment because we cannot sustain the numbers that we have in certain positions. We are looking to do that. 

‘And then we will see if we have the right opportunities in the positions that we need some more help. We are working with the club to try to address them.’

Defenders William Saliba and Calum Chambers, who has recently returned to fitness following a serious knee injury, could also be allowed to leave temporarily this month in order to gain regular football while they remain open to offers for Shkodran Mustafi.

Arsenal’s bloated squad meant they had two more senior, non-homegrown players than they were allowed to register and Arteta was forced to leave Mesut Ozil and Sokratis out of the Premier League squad he registered for the first half of the season.

Arsenal would be happy to agree exits for both, though Ozil has previously insisted that he intends to see out his £350,000-per-week contract, which expires next summer.

William Saliba has struggled for first team action and looks set to head out on loan