Arsenal might well remain in the hunt to win the Premier League title next month but one thing is for certain: their recruitment this summer needs to be better.
The Gunners had a really eye-catching summer window during Andrea Berta's first few months in charge of transfers at the Emirates Stadium, but while they did spend a lot, not all of those signings have paid off.
Viktor Gyokeres is Arsenal's top scorer with 18 goals to his name in all competitions but has attracted plenty of criticism for his inability to hold onto the ball. It's safe to say he still isn't fully comfortable playing in Mikel Arteta's system.
Gyokeres-Arsenal-Arteta
Elsewhere, while Martin Zubimendi has played more minutes than any outfield player at the club this term, you get the sense that fatigue is catching up on him and an upgrade may well be required.
Eberechi Eze has also faced questions but he is now finally coming good in Arsenal colours. Five of his goals have come against Spurs but he has saved some of his finest performances for recent months, notably scoring the winner against Newcastle.
Eze's debut season at Arsenal
Games
Goals
Assists
Minutes played
Premier League starts
Whatever happens this summer, the recruitment needs to be smarter.
Arsenal in talks to sign £70m player
The biggest priority this summer must be for Arsenal to sign a new left winger. Arteta's forward line has been decimated by injuries this season but even so, to be six years into the project and still be relying on Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli marks a failure as far as recruitment is concerned.
gabriel-martinelli-arsenal
The pair of them have underwhelmed for a while, so it will come as no surprise to learn that the Gunners are targeting a number of names, including Newcastle's Anthony Gordon, Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers and PSG superstar Kvicha Kvaratskhelia.
As it happens, the left side could have an entirely new look next season with a new left-back reportedly being lined up.
Arsenal record signings Related
Arsenal's most expensive signings of all time
The Gunners have spent generously in recent years.
That's according to Record in Portugal who cover the latest on the future of Sporting defender Maxi Araujo.
The Uruguay full-back has a £70m release clause in his contract and it's reported that Arsenal could trigger that with 'initial talks' having been held regarding his services.
maxi-araujo-sporting
Despite that clause, Sporting are said to be willing to offload him for a lower sum, although it will not fall below £52m.
Arsenal are not the only team keen on the rampaging defender with Tottenham Hotspur, providing they stay up, and Chelsea both showing an interest.
Why Araujo would be perfect for Eze
At this time of the year, Eze really comes alive. He simply loves spring. Who doesn't? Indeed, in the last four seasons, Eze has recorded an average of 0.5 goals per game in March, April and May. Meanwhile, in autumn and winter, he only averages 0.19 goals per game.
Arsenal have seen that firsthand of late, with the Englishman particularly shining off the left flank in recent matches.
The former Crystal Palace man looked like one of the few players who could impact the game against Manchester City just over a week ago and was Arteta's biggest goal threat again on Saturday night. Eze had three shots on the night, with one of them flying into the top corner after Arsenal worked a short corner nicely.
Arsenal's Eberechi Eze
While he was initially signed as an attacking midfielder, it's on the left channel where he has the potential to really come alive in this Arsenal team and together with Araujo, Arteta could create quite a partnership, something potentially akin to Ben White and Bukayo Saka of old on the right side.
One drawback for the manager is that the Sporting star is more of a flying full-back. He's not somebody who will invert much. Then again, Piero Hincapie is cut from a similar cloth in that regard and has really come into his own across recent months.
With Araujo flying down the left and Eze playing slightly inside, this has the potential to open up a whole new dynamic to Arsenal's forward line. After all, they've seen just how much damage he can cause when Arsenal played the Portuguese champions in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
It was the Uruguayan who sprang forward in the first half of the first leg only to force David Raya into a remarkable save. He was everywhere during the tie, demonstrating attacking qualities that saw him described by some analysts as a player with "the explosive power to change the tempo of a game instantly".
Araujo is a dogged defender too. He made a whopping seven fouls in the first leg and has completed more tackles (43) than any other player in the Champions League this term. 14 of those came in the quarter-finals against Arsenal.
This is a player who not only would give Eze great support down the left but would also provide adequate defensive reliability to ensure that Arsenal can get the ball back quickly and hit teams in transition.
Araujo-Sporting-Dowman-Arsenal
For much of the season, the left flank of Arteta's system has been redundant but with Eze and Araujo in tandem, fresh life could be breathed into a tired-looking crop of players over the summer.
Arsenal's Eberechi Eze Related
Worse than Gyokeres: Arteta must drop £50m Arsenal flop who lost 100% duels
Arsenal have retaken the lead in the Premier League title race after victory over Newcastle.