Arsenal know that their hopes of landing a superstar striker in the summer heavily depend on whether Mikel Arteta's troops can hold their nerve and land a top-four finish.
The Gunners currently occupy the much-coveted fourth spot with a three-point advantage over their nearest challengers and local rivals Tottenham Hotspur as well as having played a game more than both Antonio Conte's side and sixth-placed Manchester United. Were Arsenal to remain inside the top four, they would return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2016/17 campaign.
Speculation remains rife over who Arteta may try to bring into the club during the summer transfer window, but the future of a number of stars already at the Emirates is up for discussion. So much of the business to come is dependant on how the Gunners fare over the next 10 crucial Premier League games.
Mirror Football has analysed the prospects of each Arsenal first-team star and determined whether they are on their last legs as the league season draws to a dramatic close.
Aaron Ramsdale - First Choice
The former Sheffield United goalkeeper has been nothing short of a revelation since he took up his position between the sticks at the Emirates. Earning an England call-up off the back of his Arsenal form, Ramsdale has made a number of stunning stops over the course of the season and is already widely loved by the Gunners fanbase.
Bernd Leno - For Sale
The German was all smiles in the recent win over Aston Villa after his last-gasp save secured all three points in Ramsdale's absence, but Leno is still keen on a switch. Desperate to regain his place in the Germany side in a World Cup year, Leno's time in North London has clearly run its course now he is Ramsdale's deputy.
Kieran Tierney - First Choice
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Some viewed Tierney's place as under threat after the arrival of fellow left-back Nuno Tavares in the summer, but the Scotland international has responded in emphatic fashion with a strong campaign as an ever-present in the Gunners backline. Tierney has even been touted as a potential future captain.
Gabriel Magalhaes - First Choice
Arguably one of the most underrated players in Arsenal's first-team, the Brazilian centre-back has provided some much-needed grit into what was once a fragile defence. Mid-way through his second season at the club, Gabriel looks like he has been an Arsenal player for years.
Rob Holding - For Sale
Though Holding has made a new name for himself coming on with 10 minutes to go to protect an Arsenal lead, with the arrival of William Saliba imminent, the former Bolton centre-back is likely to only be placed further down the pecking order.
William Saliba - Going Nowhere
Despite signing for £30million in June 2019 and yet to make a competitive appearance, it is thought that Saliba is still highly regarded by the Arsenal hierarchy and has a future at the club. Having impressing during his third loan spell away from the club at Marseille, fans are excited to finally see the defender in action.
Benjamin White - First Choice
White's transfer fee raised eyebrows after Arsenal forked out £50m to bring him in from Brighton, but the 23-year-old has silenced any doubters. Boasting the kind of technical quality many midfielders would kill for, White has presented Arsenal with a whole new method of building attacks.
Nuno Tavares - Going Nowhere
The young Portuguese talent got off to a bright start at Arsenal, but a public dispute with Arteta has slightly tarnished his debut campaign. The defender was brought off just 30 minutes into the FA Cup defeat by Nottingham Forest which prompted him to throw his gloves at the bench in anger.
Takehiro Tomiyasu - First Choice
In the eyes of many, Japan international Tomiyasu has been the Gunners' signing of the summer after a string of stellar displays up against tough opposition. The 23-year-old dealt with Heung-Min Son comfortably during the North London derby victory in September, but injuries have since curtailed his campaign.
Cedric Soares - For Sale
While he has deputised for Tomiyasu admirably in recent weeks, it is difficult to shake the feeling that if a decent enough offer were to come in for Cedric Arsenal would happily part ways with the Portugal international. Contracted until 2024, the former Southampton right-back could still remain at the Emirates for the foreseeable if no suitors present themselves.
Hector Bellerin - Out of Contract
Arsenal's current longest-serving player has spent the the majority of the season out on loan with boyhood club Real Betis. It is unlikely the right-back has much of a career to come back to in North London given the arrival of Tomiyasu and could well stay in Spain on a permanent basis.
Mohamed Elneny - Out of Contract
The Egyptian international sees his current Gunners deal expire at the end of the season and there is yet to be much discussion surrounding a renewal. By no means first choice in the middle of the park, Elneny has proved he is a capable back-up when called upon.
Thomas Partey - First Choice
The Ghanaian took a significant while to settle in at the Emirates, but since the turn of the calendar year Partey has looked drastically improved and much closer to the midfielder Arsenal signed from Atletico Madrid. Now one of the first names on the team-sheet, Partey's range of passing makes him a vital cog in the Gunners' attacking machine.
Granit Xhaka - For Sale
The Switzerland international has so often been a lightening rod for criticism during his time at Arsenal and it has often been justified, but Xhaka is currently in the middle of a solid run of form. For years the Gunners faithful have thought that if he could just stamp out the occasional catastrophic error, he'd be a very useful asset but it has proved to be difficult.
Albert Sambi Lokonga - Going Nowhere
The Belgium international was purchased from Anderlecht in the summer and has been introduced to the Arsenal fold in phases. Lokonga started the season regularly in action, but in recent weeks has only made the bench as Partey and Xhaka hit form at just the right time.
Matteo Guendouzi - For Sale
An evident breakdown in the relationship of Guendouzi and Arteta has made the player's position at Arsenal untenable and he is expected to depart in the summer after spending the entirety of this season on loan with Marseille alongside Saliba.
Lucas Torreira - For Sale
The tough-tackling Uruguayan is expected to remain in Serie A with Fiorentina after failing to adjust to life in England despite some positive moments in a Gunners shirt that predominantly came under Unai Emery's reign.
Martin Odegaard - First Choice
After an ideal loan spell that saw Odegaard show just enough glimmer of talent to persuade Arsenal while not attracting any other suitors, the Norway captain has hit another level of form since making his switch to the Emirates permanent. Purchased from Real Madrid for just £30m, the deal looks like one of the steals of the summer.
Emile Smith Rowe - First Choice
Some feared Odegaard's arrival would stutter Smith Rowe's development, but it has played out as anything but as the England international is Arsenal's current joint-top scorer with 10. He has often had to make his mark off the bench, but expect the attacking midfielder to make his mark between now and the end of the season.
Bukayo Saka - First Choice
Without a doubt the jewel in Arsenal's crown of young stars, Saka's ability defies his years and has so often come to the rescue for Arteta's side this term. The 20-year-old has shown no sign of a Euro 2020 hangover and is well in the running for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
Gabriel Martinelli - First Choice
Martinelli was actually the first of Arsenal's young stars to announce himself back in 2019, but a serious knee-injury ensured a lengthy delay and had a significant impact on his development in North London. However, he has since recovered and then some with a string of stunning displays this season against some of the Premier League's biggest sides at just 20 years of age.
Nicolas Pepe - For Sale
Few mega-money Premier League signings have worked out worse than that of Pepe to Arsenal. The Gunners paid a club-record fee of £72m for the winger in 2019, but three years on the Ivorian plays second-fiddle to an academy graduate in Saka. Were Pepe the subject of any offers this summer it is likely Arteta would sanction his exit, though the club will almost certainly make a loss on the winger.
Alexandre Lacazette - Out of Contract
The Frenchman is doing the job required of him at the moment, but it is becoming clear the Gunners need an upgrade if they are to challenge for the honours they were once to accustomed to. At 30 years of age, Lacazette has struggled to keep up with the pace of the game at times this season and rarely lasts 90 minutes.
Eddie Nketiah - Out of Contract
The England U-21 striker is all-but certain to leave the club this summer with fellow Premier League outfit Crystal Palace sniffing around knowing he will be available on a free. Nketiah has struggled to make the kind of meaningful impact many of his fellow academy graduates achieved and his absence is unlikely to be sorely felt.
