Despite a season of undeniable highs, it looks as though this campaign will end on a low for Arsenal. The Gunners had the top four in their hands to let the advantage slip through their fingers in their last two games. They now need a miracle to secure Champions League qualification.
Mikel Arteta, though is, remaining optimistic. "Very possible," the Spaniard said when asked to assess his team's chances. "And looking back, I've been back a few years and seen a few examples of teams that they played in the last game of the season and the things that happened. The closer the game is, I am more hopeful."
Arteta's press conference began on Friday with a speech aimed at focusing on the strides his side have made across the past year, highlighting the work they've done in advancing from eighth to European football and also the way they've done it. "I think it's been a long journey again and a very challenging one this season," the Spaniard began. "But I think that we have come a long way as a club and as a team.
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"I think we have transformed the energy, the vibe and expectation of this football club again. We've done it together, showing incredible unity between the staff, the players, everybody in the club, and especially with our people, which has been incredibly supportive throughout the season, especially in difficult moments."
A key part of the 'transformation' has been the arrival of new, younger, more likeable signings that fans have been able to get behind far more easily than in recent previous vintages. Aaron Ramsdale has been the poster boy for this revolution, bringing charisma and no small amount of skill to goalkeeping jersey at the Emirates Stadium. His worst game in an Arsenal shirt probably came, unfortunately at the most crucial point of the season, but the Gunners will be hoping their English stopper has one more big performance left in him.
Perhaps the reason for Ramsdale's shaky display at St. James' Park, though was the patched-up nature of the backline in front of him. Gabriel, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White were all clearly unfit within minutes of the kick-off, but Arsenal's self-inflicted depth issues meant they had to play anyway.
The return of Rob Holding from suspension should provide some respite, but with Cedric and Nuno Tavares the only other fully fit defenders available, one of that injured trio will have to play. Gabriel and Tomiyasu both failed to last the 90 minutes, so that would make White the default selection at the back, but at this point, it's honestly a guessing game.
Midfield is a little easier to predict, with Thomas Partey not in line to make a return. Mohamed Elneny could be playing his last game in an Arsenal shirt, while captains of past and present Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard will be looking to lead the Gunners to victory.
Emile Smith Rowe limped off injured at St. James' Park too, which essentially solves Arteta's only real quality-based selection dilemma for this game as Gabriel Martinelli, sporting the No.35 shirt for the final time, will come in to start, with the battered and bruised Bukayo Saka looking to give it one last big showing on the right. Nicolas Pepe's cameo at Newcastle suggests that he is surely now on his way this summer.
Up top, both Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah could be set to follow him out the door. Both will be hoping to leave with a fond farewell if indeed it is their swansong, but Arteta is unlikely to drop Nketiah, the more lethal of his two strikers, on an afternoon where goals will be needed.
Arsenal predicted XI vs Everton: Ramsdale; Cedric, White, Holding, Tavares; Elneny, Xhaka, Odegaard; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli.
