The Gunners appear destined for, at best, a third successive season as Premier League runners up, while they have been handed a daunting draw in the Champions League.
Having been knocked out of both domestic cups already, another trophyless campaign appears to be on the cards for a talented group of players who have been unable to claim the silverware that their progress under Arteta has merited.
After opting against spending in the January transfer window, Arsenal are expected to embark on a major summer recruitment drive.
A deal to sign Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi is understood to be at an advanced stage while major attacking reinforcements are anticipated with the likes of Nico Williams, Benjamin Sesko and Alexander Isak all on Arteta’s wishlist.
Of equal importance, however, is the need to ensure the club’s key players maintain their faith in Arteta’s project and sign new deals.
The contracts of William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Bukayo Saka all expire in the summer of 2027 which would leave Arsenal vulnerable if either of that trio were to delay signing extensions.
Saliba has already been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid on a free transfer, while Saka and Gabriel would hardly be short of suitors either.
The prospect of losing any of the players who have carried them to this point in their evolution would be a bitter pill to swallow for Arsenal but it is a reality that club legend Ian Wright fears they may have to contemplate.
Following last weekend’s defeat against West Ham, he told the Wrighty’s House podcast: ‘When you’re talking about renewals with certain players… Saka, Gabriel, Saliba… the way they’re moving now, I bet those renewals are all going to be slow.
‘We’re going to have a situation maybe like Liverpool with Trent, Salah and Virgil.
‘If I’m one of these players… and their teams are going to be saying, “Let’s wait and see, we’ve got two years left so let’s wait and see who they get in the summer! I know the manager has signed again but let’s wait and see!”.
‘If they’re not going to get the kind of players that take us to the next step… look at Saliba. Real Madrid would take him tomorrow.
‘Why not wait and see what’s going on in the summer to see the kind of players and calibre of player we’re signing?’
Speaking ahead of tonight’s game against Nottingham Forest, Arteta was asked about the delicate contractual negotiations the club are likely to be involved in over the coming months and he said: ‘I think those communications or decisions are made over time so we understand when we have to act.
‘Players and agents are fully aware of the intentions of the club are. And in the right moment we have these discussions.
‘I’m sure we’re very aware of the contractual situation of every player so they will be dealing with those kind of matters.’
Pressed on whether negotiations had begun, he added: ‘Not yes and not no.’
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