Arsenal: Gunners trio set for summer exit as Arsene Wenger plots midfield overhaul

Arsenal are set for a major midfield overhaul during the summer with the first steps being taken during the January transfer window. The Gunners have begun a revamp of their midfield with the capture of Mohamed Elneny from FC Basel, which was confirmed by the club on Thursday (14 January).

According to the Mirror, this is only the first step in Arsene Wenger's plan of restructuring the club's ageing midfield ahead of next season. The report claims that the French manager will sign a more established defensive midfielder next summer, with Southampton's Victor Wanyama on top of his wanted list.

Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Flamini and Tomas Rosicky are all expected to depart the club following the expiry of their contracts at the end of the current season. The trio have struggled with injuries and lack of game time this season, despite providing able cover to first-team regular Francis Coquelin.

The former Everton midfielder, who joined the north London club in 2011, is expected to be handed a coaching role with the club at the end of the season. Arteta has already had trysts with the Arsenal U16 side as well as the Wales youth setup and following his spate of injuries this season, a regular coaching role could tempt the Spaniard.

Flamini and Rosicky will want regular football next season and with Jack Wilshere, Elneny, Aaron Ramsey, Coqueln and Santi Cazorla ahead of them in the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium, they could look for moves away from the club. The 35-year-old Czech Republic international, who has just returned to training following a lengthy spell on the sidelines, is yet to kick a ball in anger this season and despite Wenger rating him as an important member of the team, he will be keen on getting regular playing time in what could be the final stages of his football career.