Mikel Arteta has admitted he is planning for multiple transfer scenarios to surface this summer.
Whenever the transfer window opens, the Gunners will have tough decisions to make. In terms of possible outgoings, six players will reach the final 12 months of their contracts in the summer [Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mesut Ozil, Bukayo Saka, Sokratis, Shkodran Mustafi and David Luiz].
Deciding what happens to these players will without doubt have an impact on the types of players Arteta and the club's hierarchy can target for the 2020/21 season.
The current coronavirus pandemic will also have an impact on how the Gunners move in the transfer market, however, as the financial ramifications of the crisis have been felt in industries across the country.
"I'm planning two or three different scenarios that we can face," he told Sky Sports. "Depending on one of those three, we will be able to do more, less or nothing.
"We have to react daily. We don't know what the financial situation is going to be, we don't know the rules, the timing, the window. There are so many things we cannot control at the moment."
Although the uncertainty of the current situation has made Arteta's job considerably harder, the fact he has begun planning for the summer will be a promising sign for the Gunners.
In his only transfer market to date [January 2020], he gave a glimpse into how he and the club would work together to bring additions to the squad.
Very much working within their means in signing Cedric Soares and Pablo Mari on loan, it was clear the Spaniard wanted players who could fill distinct voids in the squad. Mari arriving as the sole left-footed centre-back to balance the defence for instance. Mari has an option to buy in his loan deal which will have to be considered and although Cedric doesn't, he will become a free agent this summer.
As the futures of key players like Aubameyang and Ozil will dictate what business Arsenal could do when the market is open, scouting has become even more important.
Looking at replacements in the final third, football.london understand that the Gunners' scouting network are aware of both Odsonne Edouard and Jonathan David.
At 22-years-old, Edouard is more seasoned and has scored 27 goals and provided 19 assists in 45 appearances this season.
For David, at just 20-years-old, his next move will require a lot of consideration as to whether he is making the right step for his career. He has admitted that it is his ambition to play in the Premier League one day, however.
How the defensive third is dealt with will also need attention, however. Once William Saliba and Konstantinos Mavropanos return from their respective loans, there will be eight centre-backs among the first team.
As their interest in Dayot Upamecano from last year appears to have remained - and with his contract expiring in 2021 - if they are to go in for him this summer, a shuffle of the pack will surely be needed.
