The Gunners have been well below par this season, having been knocked out of all competitions and languishing just outside the top four. This means that they are yet again going to finish the season empty-handed, like the last seven years, and could face the ignominy of missing out on Champions League football for next season.

Many Arsenal fans consider their current squad as one of the worst Wenger has assembled, with their judgment based on the premise that ex-star players like Fabregas, Nasri, Clichy, Van Persie have never actually been replaced by proven quality at the top level.

Sure, they have bought in the likes of Cazorla and also have Wilshere, but who else? Gunners fans fear an exodus of star players every summer, but the harsh reality is that they have very little or no quality players left who are coveted by so-called big clubs.

Their lack of backbone in the team has been plain to see this season. Wenger has seen enough to warrant sweeping changes to rejuvenate his squad in the summer. Arsenal have a transfer warchest of £70 million and are widely expected to spend big in order to regain their footing in the upper echelons of domestic and European football.

According to the Daily Mail, Wenger is planning a summer clear-out for his flops. Loan players like Chamakh, Bendtner, Djourou and Santos will likely join squad players Ashravin and Squillaci out the exit door.

Even the likes of Vermaelen, Sagna, Rosicky, Gervinho and Szczesny are believed to be on their way out unless they can prove themselves before the end of the campaign. Their performance in aiding Arsenal qualify for the Champions League could very well determine their future at the club.

Wenger said, “The current players have to prove between now and the end of the season that they can be part of our plans next year. We have to analyse (our squad). What will decide my attitude is how we do in our final games and where we can improve at the end of the season.”