Emery to shuffle defence with Koscielny and Monreal on chopping block after Lichtsteiner departure
STEPHAN LICHTSTEINER is leaving Arsenal after one season — and he could be followed by Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal.
Gunners boss Unai Emery is planning a major shake-up of his dodgy defence after missing out on Champions League qualification.
He wants to revert to a back four at Arsenal next season after his experiment of playing with a three-man defence failed to plug the leaks.
And that will mean big changes to a defence which conceded 70 goals in all competitions last season.
Swiss defender Lichtsteiner, 35, who has 105 international caps, was signed as a free agent from Juventus last summer on a one-year contract with the option of a further 12 months.
But Emery has decided not to take up that option on a right-back who barely played even when Hector Bellerin suffered a serious knee injury in January.
Lichtsteiner said: “I loved being a part of this club. It was a great experience without a happy ending.
“We were close to adding an important chapter to this amazing club’s history. But to be close is unfortunately not good enough.
“That is hard to accept and I am very disappointed.
“It was our objective to bring Arsenal back to the highest international level and to win trophies.
“I wish my team-mates, coach and all Gunners fans the best.”
Ramsey, Cech and Welbeck have already gone in exodus
Lichtsteiner becomes the fourth member of Emery’s squad to depart after Aaron Ramsey, Petr Cech and Danny Welbeck all reached the end of their contracts.
Ramsey has gone to Juventus, while Cech is rumoured to be returning to Chelsea as sporting director.
I loved being a part of this club. It was a great experience without a happy ending.
Captain Koscielny, 33, will also be allowed to leave this summer having one more year of his contract to run.
The Frenchman missed the first four months of last season following surgery to a ruptured Achilles.
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Monreal extended his contract to 2020 in March, but Emery is also prepared to let the 33-year-old Spaniard leave if he gets a decent offer.
Failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League will cost the club more than £50million in lost TV and sponsorship money.
Arsenal’s run to the Europa League final generated just £32m but a number of the club’s sponsorship deals are dependent on Champions League football.
Emery will have just £45m for new signings plus any revenue he can raise by selling players who do not figure in his long-term plans.
He has been linked with a move for Sampdoria's £25m-rated Danish centre-half Joachim Andersen.
