Arsenal may currently be the best team in England but there remains sharp focus on the future in north London beyond this season.
The Gunners returned to the top of the Premier League table last time out with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Aston Villa to end a run of five games without a win. The triumph in the Midlands came at a perfect time for Mikel Arteta's side after they, hypothetically, seemed to lose grip on their first Premier League title in 19 years.
Last week's defeat to Manchester City came with it an aura of disappointment inside the Emirates Stadium. Pep Guardiola's side produced a telling question to their league rivals with a 3-1 win in London, but failed to back the result up in Nottingham. Another twist in the battle.
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Anticipation amongst the Gunners fanbase is gradually growing with 15 cup finals on the horizon. There's a real feeling of excitement around the football club at the moment after years of mediocrity on the pitch.
But it's not just this campaign in which fortunes appear to have turned for the better. Attention has already turned to the future at Arsenal and returning the club to the pinnacle of England football.
Gabriel Martinelli extended his contract until 2027 after hitting a sensational run of form this season. The 21-year-old had attracted interest from Barcelona after entering the final 18 months of his previous deal, but the Brazilian will now endeavour as Gunners for the next four-and-a-half years.
Following Martinelli's contract extension, it was confirmed that Mohamed Elneny had signed on at the Emirates Stadium until 2024. The Egyptian - who is currently out injured - has become a key member of Arteta's side with his consistent ability to fill in when required.
And Arsenal's contract merry-go-round isn't expected to come to an end just yet. Last month, football.london reported that the Gunners had activated the one-year extension option in Bukayo Saka's contract.
The Hale Ender's current deal will now expire in the summer of 2024 after being the subject of interest from Man City. "I am very confident that we as a club and Bukayo, his family, his agent, everybody, we are very much aligned in what we want to achieve," Arteta said back in August. "And now it is about putting it on a piece of paper.
"I would like that to get done, because I don’t want the player or anybody distracted while we are in the middle of the season. But those things take time and they have to go through the right process, and I think the process has been really good."
Securing the long-term services of Saka - and William Saliba - will be a major statement by Edu Gasper and Stan Kroenke for the long-term future. If Arsenal fail to lift the league title in May, they're doing their utmost best to ensure they're amongst the best of the best in the coming years.
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