Arsenal's transfer work in the past 18 months has been largely flawless. Both in terms of incomings and outgoings there has been little to point to, even in hindsight, and say it was misjudged.
Last year there were question marks over Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White and the decision to continue giving Granit Xhaka opportunities. Kieran Tierney hadn't kicked on with his injury issues and Takehiro Tomiyasu was an unknown quantity. Over the course of the year there was uncertainty over what sort of risk Martin Odegaard would be.
Now there's little doubt. Arsenal have reaped the rewards of each of these signings and their choices to be loyal to their players. The summer business fitted the planning and far from just adding experience of winning with Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus, they fitted the wider mould.
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After the January window there are still questions. Jakub Kiwior is largely unknown, Jorginho is 31 and the oldest player to join the club under Mikel Arteta. Leandro Trossard is older than most as well.
They still have a defined role in the squad it seems. The same cannot be said for several of the group. Here, football.london looks at four players in limbo after the January window closed.
Kieran Tierney
Tierney is a tough one to analyse. He hasn't hit the levels hoped of him since his move from Celtic but that has largely been down to injury. At only 25 he still has many years ahead of him and could provide excellent service to the club. There is still plenty of time left on his deal but with Zinchenko the new main man, is a rotation role going to be enough?
As a Scotland international a place as second choice will be tough to take. He's still absolutely key for squad depth but he's played just 460 league minutes this season, starting four times. He's too good to go on loan but not at the level of Zinchenko. It's not expected that he'll move but if the minutes don't increase it could become one to watch.
Rob Holding
Holding is in prime position to play a big role in the Europa League campaign but that is very much a second fiddle competition this season. At the start of the term it may have looked of more importance but with the title charge being priority, Holding is little more than a midweek man.
At 27 he has played less than one half of league football and isn't out of contract until next season either. He could still have a big part to play in Europe but is that enough?
Reiss Nelson
His injury has made this a tough call but given Nelson's lack of football before being called upon following a plague of quickfire injuries earlier this season it is reasonable to think he doesn't have a certain squad spot. The promising winger hasn't kicked on from his youth days and now appears to be seeing out the days until his contract expires.
If he had been fit then perhaps that would have changed but Trossard's incoming and the gradual return of Emile Smith Rowe makes it a tough ask to get back into contention. For a player of his esteem it will be hard to watch him leave for free, if that isn't the answer then something needs sorting quickly.
Fabio Vieira
It's maybe too early to say but at 22 Vieira hasn't been able to make much of an impact on the squad yet. He's not playing stacks of football, another one acting as a Europa League specialist, and has also had to contend with injuries.
Due to it being just months into his career it his perhaps harsh to say he's in limbo but with the team performing so well and his substitute opportunities limited to small appearances there is a question as to what he is gaining this season. Vieira is undoubtedly a talented player but adapting to the league is tough when not playing and fellow summer signing Marquinhos was granted a loan on deadline day whereas Vieira will be left with midweek minutes to make up the bulk of his campaign.
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