Intriguing Summer in prospect with crucial decisions to be made on reinforcements and promotions

The next 99 days should prove to be very interesting indeed.

By then, the Summer transfer window will be officially closed and we will have a much clearer indication as to the make-up of Arsenal’s 2011/12 squad. As things stand, there are considerably more questions than answers but, given that the season is not formally over yet and speculation is rife regarding possible incomings and outgoings, this Summer is likely to be very eventful.

It already seems clear that there will be several departures, with Denilson and Nicklas Bendtner, who were both signed by the club as teenagers, reportedly expressing their desire to leave, and question marks remaining over the futures of Gael Clichy, Samir Nasri and, inevitably, Cesc Fabregas. As far as possible signings are concerned, Finnish defender Carl Jenkinson looks set to be the first acquisition and, whilst Arsene Wenger is a somewhat unpredictable figure in the transfer market to say the least, his recent comments suggest that he is aware that the team needs strengthening in key areas and, whilst he may not be willing to spend £50 million on a player, he will seek to improve the quality of the squad.

What will be especially intriguing is how the re-adjustment of the first-team squad marries in with the futures of the glut of young professionals currently on the club’s books, particularly the returning loanees. Some, such as Kyle Bartley and Henri Lansbury, appear ready to challenge for a place in the squad, whilst others, such as Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Craig Eastmond, did not have the most fruitful loan spells and may be sent out again to gain further experience.

Some will depart, with the club declining to offer an extended contract to Roarie Deacon, who had a trial with Sunderland, whilst Oguzhan Ozyakup is still yet to agree a new deal. Mark Randall is likely to join them in departing, whilst the same could be said of Gavin Hoyte, although given that he is currently recovering from a serious injury, he may be granted an extended stay.

Ryo Miyaichi and Wellington will join up with the club for pre-season and the former will no doubt be used prominently in marketing campaigns for the club’s Asian Tour, whilst also hoping to win a work permit which would enable him to play in England.

Then there are the many young professionals set to embark on loan spells next season. Chuks Aneke, Emmanuel Frimpong, Conor Henderson, Luke Freeman and Ignasi Miquel fall into this category and are likely to be joined by several others, whilst Benik Afobe could extend his fruitful spell with Huddersfield Town, especially if they succeed in reaching the nPower Championship via the play-offs.

Further down the system, George Brislen-Hall has been released, whilst Jernade Meade has signed a one year professional contract. The club must decide which of the current first-years will also turn professional, with Philip Roberts set to do so automatically given he was signed from Norwich City, whilst Josh Rees and Alban Bunjaku appear the most obvious of the other candidates.

A new batch of scholars will also make their first steps onto the lush pitches of London Colney, with Anthony Jeffrey a particularly interesting talent, whilst the likes of Jon Toral and Kristoffer Olsson will be looking to impress during their first seasons in North London. Jack Jebb, meanwhile, who will still technically be a schoolboy next season, has asked the club if he can go full time in order to focus on his football and enhance his development.

With so many players at the club’s disposal, and several whom require important decisions regarding their immediate future, this Summer promises to be busier than most.

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