Arsene Wenger Warned His Under-Achieving Stars That They Are Playing For Their Arsenal Futures

The Gunners manager has decided to spend heavily this summer in an attempt to end the club’s eight-year trophy drought. But Wenger is also planning a  clear-out, and is likely to listen to offers for a clutch of high-profile stars as he tries to trim the club’s wage bill ahead of a summer splurge which could reach £75million.

Thomas Vermaelen, Bacary Sagna, Tomas Rosicky, Gervinho, Wojciech Szczesny and Per Mertesacker could join Andrey Arshavin, Sebastien  Squillaci, Marouane Chamakh, Nicklas Bendtner, Andre Santos and Johan Djourou in a summer cull.

And Wenger gave a stark reminder to his stars, saying: ‘The current players have to prove between now and the end of the season that they can be part of our plans next year.

‘We have to analyse (our squad). What will decide my attitude is how we do in our final games and where we can improve at the end of the season.’

Victory at home against Reading today could go some way towards  persuading Wenger that those under threat can play a role next season. Three points could see the Gunners move to within a point of fourth-placed Tottenham, with a game in hand. And Wenger insists his side have the talent and mental capacity to pip their rivals to the final Champions League place for the second consecutive season.

He added: ‘The team have gone through difficult times and responded well. They have shown the mental strength as we lost against Blackburn, Bayern Munich and Tottenham.

‘We showed a strong response in the second leg against Bayern and against Swansea. That shows the group is  mentally strong.’

Source: Daily Mail