Arsenal can say goodbye to their hopes of finishing in the top four if they fail to beat Manchester United on Sunday.
The Gunners are five points behind Jose Mourinho’s side and six points behind fourth-placed Manchester City. It’s imperative that they take all three points at the Emirates Stadium or, for the first time in Arsene Wenger’s era at the club, there will be no Champions League football to look forward to.
It’s been a troubled season for the north London outfit. Not only have they had to contend with Tottenham Hotspur finishing above them for the first time this century, but they’ve also had to cope with Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil’s enduring contract disputes.
Neither player has put pen to paper on a new deal thus far and so Arsenal face losing both in 2018 for nothing.
And, of course, nobody knows yet whether Wenger will be in charge next season.
Arsenal were once one of the most respected clubs in the country. Now, they resemble a club that is incredibly disorganised and without a clear direction plan.
Wenger's future is still unclear
In February, Wenger said he would decide on a new contract in March or April. Both months have passed and no decision has been announced yet.
"I don't want to speak about my personal case any more,” he said this week, per BBC Sport.
Paul Merson's assessment
Former Arsenal star Paul Merson, who has forged a successful career as a pundit on Sky Sports, has grown tiresome of the situation at the Emirates Stadium,
Speaking with ArsenalFanTV presenter Robbie following an after-dinner event, Merson delivered a passionate assessment of his former club.
‘Merse’ called for Wenger to quit, for Arsenal’s former vice-chairman David Dein to return, and admitted that only one player - Alexis Sanchez - would get in Tottenham’s starting line-up.
Watch Merson as he speaks his mind below.
Watch: Merson delivers passionate Arsenal rant
Change in north London power?
The opinion of Arsenal supporters towards Wenger sunk even further following last weekend’s 2-0 defeat to Spurs in the north London derby.
The defeat ensured that, for the first time in more than two decades, Tottenham will finish ahead of Arsenal in the top flight.
As Merson points out, it’s probably too early to safe the power in north London has shifted just yet.
But the seeds have been planted for the Lilywhites to replace the Gunners as north London’s top team.