Sokratis Papastathopoulos is ready to walk away from Arsenal this summer if he does not figure in Mikel Arteta’s long-term plans.
The Greek defender is tied to a contract at Emirates Stadium that is due to run until 2021 and he has previously suggested that he will honour that agreement before contemplating a move elsewhere.
Sokratis has, however, seen David Luiz and Shkodran Mustafi nail down centre-half berths under Arteta, while Pablo Mari is also now on board, and the highly-rated William Saliba will join the Gunners’ ranks at the end of the season.
If there is no regular role for him in north London, having been used a makeshift right-back at times over recent weeks, Sokratis admits he is prepared to push for the exits.