Another season, two more big names entering the final year of their respective contracts at Arsenal, and others not cutting the best version of themselves under Unai Emery.
But who are the men that could step in and fill the boots of those potentially on their way out and who could be brought in to replace the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Danny Welbeck?
The transfer budget Arenal is unlikely to be in the hundreds of millions, and, unless the North London side can step back into the top four, the quality of the players in question may not be the big names needed to put together a first title challenge without Arsene Wenger.
Youth players can always be called on for games in the FA and EFL Cup, too, but is it too early to thrust the young Guns into the first team?
Here are some players Arsenal should target to rebuild the squad…
Should Arsenal deem Petr Cech no longer up for it, following a so-so start to the season that has mixed glimpses of his past glories with horror gaffes that nearly lead to an own goal on the opening day against Manchester City, Albania international Thomas Strakosha should be high on the list of replacements.
Bernd Leno is the likely man to take over from the 36-year-old, and has the perfect chance to show his worth for the Gunners with Cech ruled out due to a hamstring injury.
Moving Leno up to number one would leave Arsenal needing to look to the market to sign a new backup, with young goalie Emiliano Martinez not yet at the level needed for the first team.
Albanian keeper, Strakosha, therefore would be a perfect man to bring in as he has youth on his side at the age of 23 but also has experience from Serie A games for Lazio since 2016, following a loan spell at Salernitana.
Will he stay or will he go? That is the question over Ramsey’s future with the Gunners as the Welsh midfielder’s contract continues to wind down into its final months.
Should Arsenal allow the long-serving player to depart, reports have emerged Unai Emery wants Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski to replace him.
Zielinski, 24, has been touted as Ramsey’s successor as reported by Sport Mediaset, who claim the Poland international is the first-choice man to fill the former Cardiff starlet’s potential void.
Deciding whether Zielinski is the best option to replace Ramsey also falls on the question of what is the Arsenal star’s best position. Do they look to sign a defensive-focused midfielder to supplement the likes of Granit Xhaka, Lucas Torreira and Mattéo Guendouzi, or do they look to bring in a more attacking player to interchange with Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan?
Also out of contract, Danny Welbeck is another Arsenal star looking at potential suitors as his deal runs short.
Welbeck joined Arsenal from rivals Manchester United and has made himself a key impact player with his goals off the bench without ever establishing himself as a starter in either of Wenger or Emery’s squads.
The versatile nature of Welbeck has given Arsenal a forward as comfortable up top as he is on the wing, helping to cover multiple positions across the front line.
But with his time at the Emirates appearing to reach its end, Arsenal have a choice on their hands -whether they sign a replacement or promote Reiss Nelson to the first team upon his return from loan at Hoffenheim.
Nelson, 18, broke into the Arsenal team last season as Wenger handed the English teenager sporadic games amidst his final term at the helm.
The London-born forward followed those games up with a new deal at Arsenal before departing on loan to the Bundesliga, so far making three appearances and scoring one goal for Hoffenheim.
Outside the Arsenal books, Argentinean attacking midfielder Matias Vargas has flaunted his desire to one day play for the North London side, stating in a TV interview “The Arsenal” when asked which elite club he’d most like to join.
Currently Vargas plays in the Primera División with Velez Sarsfield, but is starting to make a name for himself with 11 assists and five goals last season, leading to comparisons with Chelsea’s Eden Hazard.
