Arsenal are entering a very important and perhaps defining period of their modern history where, after a tricky start to the season, the club can either drop off and fall into a top-four race, or push on and try to claw their way back into the title discussion.

Arsenal have transformed this area of their project, where before they would regularly lose their top stars to now signing the best players for £100million-plus and securing the futures of their best players regularly.

But the cycle has again come round and no sooner has it felt like the biggest profiles in the squad were safe, we see the end of the tunnel approaching again.

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This period has significance because it means should the club not renew at this point, one more season and the last summer before the expiration of their deal will arrive. Should the players wish to leave, the two-year threshold represents the club's best chance to make a considerable sale on them too.

Big teams still lose big players even when they’re at the very top. Julian Alvarez leaving Manchester City, Eden Hazard leaving Chelsea and there are murmurs that Trent Alexander-Arnold may yet see his time at Liverpool end this season too with his contract set to expire.

For Arsenal, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba are the three in question who have contracts with the club until 2027. The club remain calm and confident on their futures, but it has not stopped the rumour mill from bubbling away.

Saliba in particular has been suggested to be of interest to both Real Madrid and PSG. With Eder Militao injured again and both Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba reaching the twilight years of their career, Saliba stands out as a perfect candidate.

It will be the job of the new sporting director to try and convince the trio to commit to further years with the club. Edu Gaspar has since resigned and was responsible for part of the discussions over all three’s last contract renewals.

Mikel Arteta too has a big role to play, as does the newly promoted managing director Richard Garlick and the recently appointed head of football operations James King. Yet Edu's replacement will be a key figure in discussions and perhaps even their appointment may well be a factor in the player's own choices too.