15 more cup finals to go and things are really hotting up for Mikel Arteta.
The Spaniard has admitted that getting back into the Champions League is where he feels Arsenal belongs, and for the first time in his managerial career he has a genuine chance to get them there.
But with such fierce competition from Manchester United, West Ham, Tottenham and Wolves, the scope for even the tiniest error is basically non-existent.
As a result each team selection now carries with it the weight of a Gunners fanbase who, for half a decade now, have been starved of the chance to dine at Europe’s top table.
Ahead of Thursday night’s clash with Wolves at the Emirates, the stakes are just as high as they have been and will continue to be until May.
After his hilarious fish and chips advert this week, I see no reason to dis-plaice Aaron Ramsdale in goal, while much of the back four in front of him is pretty self-evident too. The one place where I might consider a slightly controversial choice is at right back.
Takehiro Tomiyasu has been the first choice option pretty much since his arrival from Bologna on transfer deadline day, but with Cedric having played so well in the past two matches there is a decision to make.
I personally feel that with his good form the Portuguese defender has earned the right to lose that starting spot so I would stick with him. If things go wrong then there will be plenty of chances of Tomiyasu to come back in between now and the end of the season with minimal fuss.
Midfield is also pretty easy to pick, with Thomas Partey excelling as a six and Granit Xhaka showing some promising signs in a more advanced left eight role.
The forward positions are a little trickier.
Personally I think in a game where chances could be few and far between it makes sense to get Arsenal’s biggest goal threats on to the pitch, and despite being the club’s first choice senior striker Alexandre Lacazette does not fall into that category.
Bringing Wolves’ tightly drilled back five out of position will be tough, but playing Emile Smith Rowe as a false nine could be the smartest way to do that.
I would look to bring Takehiro Tomiyasu back into defence to help Arsenal return to their strongest and first choice back four as soon as possible, although that’s not to ignore what Cedric has done in recent matches.
Since returning from suspension Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey have been superb, with the Swiss in particular silencing a few doubters about his attacking contribution, so I see little reason to drop either of them.
In the forward areas things are a little bit complicated.
In Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli and Alexandre Lacazette, Arteta has five players in decent form, but only four spots in the starting XI to share between them.
That means that one of the ‘fab four’ has to miss out.
