Despite some good moments the January transfer window has widely been regarded as a disappointing one by Arsenal fans.
Edu was able to move several players on with Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Flo Balogun and Pablo Mari all departing on loan, while Sead Kolasinac, Calum Chambers and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang all left permanently.
However, it was the lack of signings that disappointed Gunners fans. Despite being linked to big names like Dusan Vlahovic, Alexander Isak and Arthur Melo, the only player brought in was American defender Auston Trusty, who was then immediately loaned back out to KSE-owned MLS side Colorado Rapids.
Now though it seems that Stan and Josh Kroenke have a new plan to get fans back onside.
Arsenal are set to offer contract extensions to immensely gifted and important youngsters Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, football.london understands.
This continues a policy of tying down the club's young talent that saw Emile Smith Rowe and Kieran Tierney sign extensions last summer as Mikel Arteta seeks to build a group that grows together and is eventually capable of challenging for the top trophies both domestically and on the continent.
All contract talks are handled by Head of Football Operations Richard Garlick, who has already shown himself to be a shrewd negotiator by helping to bring in summer signings Aaron Ramsdale, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White, Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Martin Odegaard.
As Garlick sits down at the negotiating table with arguably Arsenal's two most exciting young players though, he may have an extra trick up his sleeve to help secure a deal.
Shirt numbers in football have always carried great significance, as a symbol of status and importance. When it comes to contract negotiations, offering a young player an important one can be a useful bargaining chip as it shows that they are in the immediate first team plans.
This was the case in the summer where the decision to offer Smith Rowe - who had previously worn 32 - the Gunners' famous number 10 shirt, helped tie the Hale Ender's long-term future down at the Emirates.
“He asked for [it], so that shows you the ambition and desire,” said Arteta of the shirt switch.
“I prefer players who ask for more than maybe they can take but if they believe they can do it, don’t put a limit on it. When he asked me and [I] asked the club that he would like to get that [number], OK, let’s go.
“We talked a little bit, we discussed it and he knows the consequences of that, but he feels prepared to do it and if he is prepared to do it, then I am going to be right behind him to try to make him as comfortable and as happy as possible to do what he wants to do.”
Saka is already in possession of the number seven shirt after signing his own contract extension in the summer of 2020, so there's not much of an improvement Arsenal can offer him there.
When it comes to Martinelli though, it is a different story.
The 20-year-old has worn the number 35 shirt since arriving in North London from Brazilian fourth division side Ituano in the summer of 2019.
Many thought that he could change to number 11 last summer after the shirt was vacated by Lucas Torreira 's loan move to Fiorentina and Martin Odegaard's decision to wear eight after his permanent signing from Real Madrid.
However, it seems that Martinelli has his eyes on a different shirt altogether.
When discussing his future ambitions at Arsenal, the Brazilian was quick to mention Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as someone he looks up to and hopes to emulate, while describing the number 14 shirt as a "symbol of the club."
With Aubameyang having left to join Barcelona on a permanent basis earlier this month, the number 14 shirt that Martinelli idolises is now available again.
The jersey is particularly significant for Arsenal given that it was worn by one of its greatest ever players Thierry Henry.
As a left sided forward who can also play through the middle, it's easy to see why Martinelli wants to follow same trajectory of the Frenchman, and as the Gunners look to tie him in to a long term deal, offering him the famous number 14 could be a clincher.
