Not since 2003/04 have the Gunners been able to hold the famous trophy aloft, finishing as runners-up in the past three campaigns.

Arsenal's board have backed Arteta's overhaul

To the club's credit, the board have backed Mikel Arteta to the hilt in the transfer market, unlike their neighbours across North London, though the Spaniard will be acutely aware that he has got to start winning some significant silverware soon.

Whether or not they snap their 22-year Premier League wait under their former player will be seen within the next few weeks, but one thing is clear.

If they do or don't, the squad will still continue to be improved upon, and that means players who have served the club well but have perhaps gone off the boil need to be moved on.

The best teams evolve whilst still being successful rather than waiting until form begins to drop off before adding to the playing staff already in situ, and that focus has to remain at the forefront of everyone's minds, whether or not Arsenal become champions.

Odegaard's poor injury record

According to reports, both club captain Martin Odegaard and exciting wide man Gabriel Martinelli could be sold in the summer to help raise funds to improve the squad.

The Norwegian would be the first to acknowledge that his form and injury record haven't been the best during 2025/26.

Two knee injuries, a shoulder injury, as well as two other unspecified problems, have kept Odegaard out of the side for a number of matches, meaning that he's not really been able to build up a head of steam and get any sort of rhythm to his game when he has played.

In the league during 2025/26, for example, he's managed just a solitary goal in 20 matches, as well as five assists.

That's a remarkable drop off since 2022/23 when he scored 15 goals and provided seven assists in the top-flight, and even during 2024/25 his three goals and eight assists were somewhat more acceptable than his current output.

Just 5% shot conversion

If we take into account a shot conversion rate of just 5% - his worst return of the past few seasons - and the fact he's had only 20 shots in the league this season, which is less than half of what he's had in all of the previous three campaigns, it's clear that the Norwegian is making no headway whatsoever in the attacking part of his game.

Something that was always his forte.

Though his 85.1% pass completion stat in the league this season is one of his best, he has only attempted 631, compared to 1389, 1900 and 1689 in the last three campaigns.

Despite Odegaard's book value now being believed to be quite low, the club could still command a reasonably hefty fee for a player that's still only 27 years of age, and it's that which may tip the balance.

It isn't only the Norwegian who could be looking for a new club after the World Cup either.

Martinelli's decent goals and assists return

Gabriel Martinelli is another who has been linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium, though his 44 goals and 21 assists in all competitions, using the same sample size as his captain, place him second only to Bukayo Saka.

His pace has always been a successful outlet for the Gunners too, and though financial aspects are once again likely to dictate any final decision, to take away such raw speed and output from the front line could be considered a little risky at this stage.

Particularly if the club are considering allowing the likes of injury-prone attacking pair, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, to stay on in North London.

Perhaps Arteta is looking at other aspects of Martinelli's game which haven't really improved as much as the player and coach would hope.

Big decisions afoot for Arteta

His pass completion in the final third during the current league season for instance, has dropped down to just 59.6%. As high as 78.9% three seasons ago evidences a sharp decline.

The number of times he has recovered possession has also seen a significant downturn.

In this season's Premier League, Martinelli has regained the ball on 41 separate occasions, compared to 78 times last season, 95 times the season before that and 103 times in 22/23.

Losing 863 one-on-one duels in those few campaigns is a fairly remarkable statistic, so even if the Brazilian will still only be 25 by the start of the 2026/27 season, and with his peak years supposedly ahead of him, one can at least understand why Arteta might be considering the possibilities.

Ultimately, big managers have to make big decisions in the hope that success follows.

03 feb2023	Arsenal	-	Renovación
02 jul2019	Ituano	Arsenal	€7M
01 ene2018	Ituano Academy	Ituano	Traspaso libre

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