There's a lot of negative noise directed toward Arsenal at the moment, but the truth is that Mikel Arteta's side are behind Manchester City only on goal difference after being defeated at the Etihad last weekend.
The Gunners have made headway over the years in Arteta's system, but can they go that extra mile when fatigue has set in? That is the question for this brilliant team, who have finished second in three successive Premier League title races, and now find themselves neck and neck with Pep Guardiola once more.
Unfortunately, the same old problems have plagued Arteta's team: injuries and a lack of destructive power in attack. Viktor Gyokeres knows how to score a goal, but he's no Erling Haaland.
However, Gyokeres isn't the only one who's flattered to deceive at times this season, with Gabriel Jesus something of a passenger this year. Surely he is approaching the end of his time at the Emirates Stadium?
Why Arsenal should sell Gabriel Jesus
Jesus is a dynamic and intelligent forward, but he's not a natural goalscorer. In theory, this should provide a neat counterpoint to Gyokeres' more physical frontman style.
Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Jesus and Eberechi Eze look dejected after losing the Carabao Cup Final to Manchester City
However, he's still been too wasteful at times this season, and Arsenal have often failed to watch the 29-year-old strut his stuff due to recurrent injury problems.
A shocking display at St. Mary's as Arsenal crashed out of the FA Cup may have spelt the end of Jesus' time in north London. He has been an unused substitute across six of his side's past eight Premier League outings.
Gabriel Jesus' Premier League Minutes at Arsenal
Season
25/26
24/25
23/24
22/23
Jesus' retrogression at Arsenal cannot be allowed to continue next season. He is already in the penultimate year of his contract and has been linked with a move away in recent months. Multiple clubs are keen.
The Brazil international isn't the only one who needs to be part of a summer clearout, though, with one of Arteta's first-teamers looking like he belongs in a former era.
Arteta signing belongs in the Emery era
Unai Emery had a tough task in replacing Arsene Wenger at the Emirates, and while the Spaniard has demonstrated elsewhere his expertise as a manager, it just didn't work out at Arsenal.
His recruitment was part of the problem; it certainly looks very different to the largely calculated spending under Arteta. But the gaffer doesn't always get it right, and Kepa Arrizabalaga has played this season like he belongs in an era that does not belong to title-chasing Arteta.
Unai Emery's Biggest Arsenal Signings
Player
Nicolas Pepe
William Saliba
Lucas Torreira
Kieran Tierney
Bernd Leno
Kepa joined Arsenal from Chelsea in July 2025 after meeting his £5m buyout clause. He has only played 11 matches for the Londoners, but fans have been left disgruntled by his performances, at fault, for example, during the defeat to Southampton in the FA Cup.
More fundamentally, though, Kepa simply isn't good with his feet. His stunted distribution cuts off much of Arsenal's build-up play.
Against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final, this was clear, with the Citizens deciding against pressing Arsenal's centre-backs. When Kepa tried to build from the back, the Gunners' progressive patterns crumbled.
Luckily, David Raya isn't going anywhere, and it seems unlikely that the £150k-per-week Kepa will play for Arsenal again this season. Perhaps he needs to be shipped on this summer, for he resembles something closer to Arsenal's turbulent past chapter than the elite standard that Arteta has instilled.
kepa-arrizabalaga-premier-league-bournemouth
You could argue that Kepa cost Arsenal in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup this season. It's easy to look inferior when competing against a superstar such as Raya, but Kepa is not the one, and with Noni Madueke also leaving a lot to be desired this season, the Gunners may be wise to sever that Chelsea-Arsenal transfer connection.
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Arsenal are now actively looking to sign an upgrade on Martin Odegaard in the form of a Real Madrid star this summer.