Following their return to form in the Premier League title contest, Arsenal’s attention ahead of the weekend centres on the Champions League draw. The Gunners dismantled Tottenham 4-1 last Sunday to re-establish their five-point cushion over Manchester City.

The triumph arrived after back-to-back draws against Brentford and Wolves, with certain sections of the fanbase starting to doubt how effectively Mikel Arteta’s team could cope with the burden of being pace-setters. Nevertheless, securing north London supremacy for the second occasion this campaign put those concerns to rest.

Before their home fixture against Chelsea this Sunday, the Gunners will learn their Champions League last-16 opponents when the draw occurs on Friday.

Express Sport examines the latest developments concerning the Gunners, including the respective prospects of several Arsenal players.

Arteta favourite could leave

Arsenal’s remarkable squad depth represents a crucial factor behind their title challenge. However, what can accompany numerous elite players competing for a position in the starting XI is potential dissatisfaction at their limited opportunities.

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Gabriel Jesus has started just six matches across all competitions since his injury comeback in December, and Gunners legend Ray Parlour reckons his stint in north London might conclude at the campaign’s end.

He told Metro: “I think Jesus might leave at the end of the season, he is at that age where he wants to be playing week in, week out. We could lose him. We had four strikers when I played. That’s what I don’t understand.

“(Regardless of Jesus leaving), bring in another one anyway. That can give the other options a lift because they see the standard being set.”

Arteta is understood to hold Jesus in high regard, having previously said about the player: “I love his mentality. It doesn’t matter how long he plays, when he plays, in which position, he always gives absolutely everything.”

Transfer exodus predicted

Arsenal boast great depth in midfield and wide areas, where competition for starting berths is fiercest. That battle for minutes could trigger a mass departure of several high-profile players, according to former Gunners favourite Perry Groves.

Arteta has already sanctioned Ethan Nwaneri’s loan move to Marseille last month, whilst captain Martin Odegaard’s starting spot isn’t guaranteed, evidenced by Eberechi Eze’s double against Spurs on Sunday, despite the midfielder’s own struggles for regular action.

Groves believes that the rise of Max Dowman, combined with the constant arrival of quality recruits, might prompt some of Arsenal’s more senior figures to seek pastures new. “The thing is though, you won’t have to fit them all in,” Groves told talkSPORT.

“Because there will be a few that will be gone at the end of the season. The squad is that strong, and there will be new faces that come in, so there will be a few that will be surplus to requirements.

“They all want to go and play. Like you mentioned, Nwaneri, if you’re talking about the inside where he wants to play. You’ve got Eze, Odegaard, then Max Dowman who is unbelievable, trust me. So then Nwaneri quite rightly will be thinking, ‘I want to go and play’.”

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