Another one bites the dust, Gunners clear out continues
The Gunners have confirmed that Sokratis Papastathopoulos has seen his contract terminated with both sides agreeing that a move would be beneficial for both player and the club.
The 32-year-old defender’s contract was due to expire at the conclusion of the season, however, he can now look for a new club in the January window.
🗞 Working closely with @SokratisPapa5 and his team, we have decided to cancel his contract by mutual consent
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 20, 2021
It was a short stay for the Greek defender, two and a half years he spent at the Emirates and the writing was on the wall for his Gunners career after he, like Mesut Ozil, was left out of Mikel Arteta’s Premier League and Europa League squads.
In his two and a half year stint in north London, Sokratis made 69 appearances after he joined in 2018 in a £14 million deal from Borussia Dortmund.
Edu, Arsenal’s technical director spoke to the club’s official website after the Greek defender.
“On behalf of Mikel, our coaches, players and everyone at the club, I would like to thank Papa for his contribution to the club.
“He has been an important part of our group and has been a model professional throughout. The negotiations to end his contract have been collaborative and we wish Papa and his family well for the future.”
With Mesut Ozil, Sead Kolasinac, and Sokratis already out the Emirates door and possibly Shkodran Mustafi to follow, the deadwood is slowly starting to clear and Mikel Arteta’s vision is starting to come to fruition.
