Following their return to winning ways in the Premier League, Arsenal's attention ahead of the weekend turns to the Champions League draw. The Gunners thrashed Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 last Sunday to re-establish their five-point advantage over Manchester City.
The triumph arrived after back-to-back stalemates against Brentford and Wolves, with sections of the support beginning to doubt whether Mikel Arteta's squad could cope with the pressures of leading the pack.
Nevertheless, securing north London supremacy for the second occasion this campaign put those concerns to rest. Before their home fixture against Chelsea this Sunday, the Gunners will discover their Champions League last-16 opponents when the draw occurs on Friday.
We examine the latest developments concerning the Gunners, including the potential futures of several Arsenal players.
Star exit claimArsenal's remarkable squad depth stands as a crucial factor behind their title push. Yet what can accompany numerous elite players competing for a place in the starting XI is potential dissatisfaction regarding their limited involvement.
Gabriel Jesus has begun just six matches across all competitions since returning from injury in December, and Gunners legend Ray Parlour reckons his spell in north London might conclude at the season's end.
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He told Metro : "I think Jesus might leave at the end of the season, he is at that age where he wants to be playing week in, week out. We could lose him.
"We had four strikers when I played. That's what I don't understand. (Regardless of Jesus leaving), bring in another one anyway. That can give the other options a lift because they see the standard being set."
Arteta is understood to hold Jesus in high regard, having previously commented on the forward: "I love his mentality. It doesn't matter how long he plays, when he plays, in which position, he always gives absolutely everything."
Mass departures tipped
The Gunners face their fiercest competition for starting berths in central and wide attacking areas. This battle for minutes on the pitch could trigger a wave of exits, according to ex-Arsenal favourite Perry Groves.
The manager has already sanctioned Ethan Nwaneri's temporary switch to Marseille last month, whilst skipper Martin Odegaard's position isn't guaranteed - evidenced by Eberechi Eze's double against Tottenham on Sunday, despite the midfielder's own struggles for regular action.
Groves reckons the rise of Max Dowman, combined with the steady stream of incoming quality, could prompt some of the club's stars to seek pastures new. "The thing is though, you won't have to fit them all in," Groves told talkSPORT, replying to a comment about how the Gunners will include all of their big-name players in their starting XI.
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"Because there will be a few that will be gone at the end of the season. The squad is that strong, and there will be new faces that come in, so there will be a few that will be surplus to requirements."
He further commented: "They all want to go and play. Like you mentioned, Nwaneri, if you're talking about the inside where he wants to play. You've got Eze, Odegaard, then Max Dowman who is unbelievable, trust me. So then Nwaneri quite rightly will be thinking, 'I want to go and play."
