Anyone who has watched Arsenal this season will be fully aware of the job on Mikel Arteta's hands this summer. The idea that the current crop of players will successfully combine competing in the Premier League and Champions League is a fractured one.
The previous eight games have shown exactly why Edu Gaspar and Arteta are preparing for a summer of change. Owner Stan Kroenke will reportedly make over £200million available for new signings in the hope of bridging the gap between themselves and Manchester City.
"I know we're not at that level, but we have to find a way," Arteta said. "This is not enough."
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Next season, the north Londoners will host Champions League football for the first time since 2017. Their return to Europe's greatest stage means Arsenal must make upgrades to the squad, to ensure the quality of performance does not dip when injuries and form present themselves.
We know, of course, that a new midfielder is Arteta's priority. Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo are two names seemingly linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium every day.
Yet, other areas of the Spaniard's job may require closer attention. In defence, Arsenal have suffered from William Saliba's injury and have lacked serious competition at right-back for Ben White following Takehiro Tomiyasu's season-ending injury in March.
At left-back, Oleksandr Zinchenko has held down the fort rather well in his debut season at the club, but his defensive fragilities have not worked in the Gunners' favour. Kieran Tierney has filled in when required but lacks the ability to adapt to Arteta's evolved tactics.
Tierney is one player who may be sold in the summer in search of regular minutes, a deal that would leave Arsenal scrambling for a deputy to Zinchenko. With a chunk of the available transfer budget due to be invested in midfield, Edu and Arteta may have the perfect signing from their native home.
Jordi Alba will leave Barcelona at the end of the season, ending his 11-year spell with the La Liga champions. The 34-year-old has won six La Liga titles, five Copa del Rey trophies and the Champions League, a serial winner and one of the best left-backs to grace the game in the last decade.
His contract in Spain will be mutually terminated a year early, to comply with La Liga's financial fair play rules. Alba will be one of many Barca stars to leave in the summer - with Jules Kounde searching for a way out - as part of their attempts to bring Lionel Messi back.
The Argentine, ironically, was one of many footballers who wished Alba well following his announcement on Wednesday. He wrote on Instagram: "You were more than a mate, a true accomplice on the court... And how nice it is to also be able to enjoy how well we get along personally.
"You already know I always wish you the best and also your family, may your new stage continue to bring you many successes and joys. Thanks for everything, Jordi."
Neymar, Luis Suarez, Thiago and Andreas Iniesta have all joined Messi in paying their respect, for arguably one of Spain's greatest left-backs.
Many Arsenal supporters may turn their noses up against the prospect of bringing Alba to the Emirates Stadium. At 34, he's close to retirement and lacks the sharp pace that made him so vital to Barcelona's team in years gone by.
But there is substance as to why he should be on Arteta's list. First of all, he has made over 80 appearances in the Champions League throughout his playing career, with an additional 386 in Spain's top division. If Arsenal have lacked anything in the latter end of the current season, it's experience. That's one box ticked off.
Secondly, Alba has accepted playing a bit-part role for Xavi's side this season due to Alejandro Balde's emergence and Marcos Alonso's summer arrival from Chelsea. The Spain international won't come to London demanding to be first-choice meaning they can make his availability work for both parties.
The former Sevilla man is more than capable of doing a job in a back four. FBREF has Alba ranking in the 84th percentile for completed passes and the 99th percentile for progressive passes (passes that move the ball towards the opposition goal line or any pass into the penalty area). He also ranks in the 90th percentile for touches in the opponent's penalty box and 84th percentile for successful take-ons.
Of course, Alba isn't a signing for the future and if Arsenal had not qualified for the Champions League, he wouldn't be needed. Yet with the club competing against Europe's elite, as well as England's, competent quality in Arteta's ranks is a must.
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