After three years of falling short, Arsenal appear poised to prove their detractors wrong and finally fulfil their title ambitions. Having topped the Premier League table since early October, the Gunners are also strongly positioned in the Champions League and continue their campaigns in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, the latter of which will see them meet Manchester City in the final this month.

The journey to success has been lengthy and challenging for Mikel Arteta, who has reshaped his squad through substantial investment over the summer, bidding farewell to numerous first-team players. The Spaniard isn’t hesitant to make bold calls, just consider his ruthless removal of Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang early in his spell at the Emirates.

Admittedly, his decision to sanction the departures of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jorginho, Thomas Partey and Kieran Tierney was far less contentious but equally crucial to elevate Arsenal to the next level.

Before their departure, the quartet were worth £ 55 million according to Transfermarkt, but given the latter three departed as free agents and the Gunners only secured £1.3m for the Ukraine international, there was scarcely any revenue generated from their exits.

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Regarding Zinchenko, he was originally sent on loan to Nottingham Forest last summer but featured in only five league matches for the Premier League club after being sidelined for nearly two months due to injury.

His loan arrangement was formally terminated in January, enabling him to complete a permanent transfer to Ajax. He managed only two appearances for the Dutch club before sustaining a significant knee problem that ended his campaign prematurely.

Following two campaigns in north London, Jorginho departed for Brazilian outfit Flamengo as a free agent and has been a near-constant presence for his new employers. He’s already collected four trophies since his arrival, having claimed the FIFA Challenger Cup, the FIFA Derby of the Americas, the Copa Libertadores, and the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A crown.

Thomas Partey likewise departed after discussions over fresh terms failed to reach an agreement, providing the Ghana international with the chance to return to Spain with Villarreal.

Hampered by fitness problems throughout his Premier League spell, injury concerns have resurfaced for the midfielder this campaign as he’s been absent for nine fixtures across all competitions.

Partey, 32, last began a league fixture for the La Liga outfit in November and has accumulated just 94 minutes of league football since.

The longest-serving member of the quartet, Kieran Tierney permanently concluded his six-year spell in London by heading home to boyhood club Celtic.

The left-back has appeared in 28 of their 29 league fixtures whilst providing five goals and seven assists during his maiden campaign back at Parkhead.

Whilst the quartet were undoubtedly loyal servants for the Gunners, considering the players now occupying their positions are Ricciardo Calafiori, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino and Myles Lewis-Skelly, Arteta’s judgement cannot be questioned.