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Arsenal are one of the top clubs in England and Europe. One of only four teams to win at least three Premier League titles, the Gunners have had many top players play for them over the years.
Under Arsene Wenger, the London-based club enjoyed one of the most successful spells in their history. However, for the first time in more than two decades, the Gunners are without European football this season.
Although they have been on their way up under Mikel Arteta, they are not yet one of the elite teams in the country or in Europe. Arteta's largely youthful squad has some experience, though. On that note, here's a look at the five longest-serving Arsenal players at the moment:
#5 Eddie Nketiah - 4 years, 7 months
Eddie Nketiah made a rousing start to life with the Gunners' first team.
However, after scoring twice in his first season in 2017-18, the centre-forward has failed to deliver on his early promise. He has failed to nail down a first-team spot, and has scored only 18 times in 77 outings across competitions. The 22-year-old has scored five goals this season, though none have come in the Premier League.
With his contract expiring in the summer, Nketiah is all set to leave the Emirates on a free transfer. However, the Englishman has the opportunity to showcase his talent as the Gunners are currently low on strikers at the club. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's departure in January has left them short on forwards at the club.
#4 Alexandre Lacazette - 4 years, 7 months
Alexandre Lacazette is the senior-most striker at Arsenal following Aubameyang's departure to the Camp Nou on a free transfer last month.
The 30-year-old has had a decent stint with the Gunners since his arrival from Lyon in the summer of 2017. Lacazette has bagged over 100 goal contributions (70 goals, 33 assists) in nearly 200 games across competitions for the club.
As confirmed by manager Mikel Arteta, Lacazette will captain the club for the rest of the season.
However, it looks like a stop-gap arrangement, as the Frenchman's contract with Arsenal expires this summer. Unless Lacazette can improve on his tally of five goals and as many assists this season, he is unlikely to be offered a new deal by the club.
#3 Rob Holding - 5 years, 6 months
Rob Holding arrived at Arsenal in the summer of 2016, but it is only recently that he has become a fixture in the starting XI.
The 26-year-old centre-back has scored twice in 130 appearances across competitions for the club. He made nearly 40 appearances last season, but his game time this campaign has been limited due to injury.
The Englishman earned praise from his manager for his cameo outing in the 1-0 Wolves win in the Premier League last weekend. Coming on after the Gunners were reduced to ten men, Holding helped his team take all three points on the night. Arteta gushed about the player, saying:
'"His attitude, his commitment to the team whether he plays every week or plays one minute, it's incredibly good. He's a really good influence for the rest. Today he really helped the team, the way he defended the box made a huge difference. Thanks to him we won the game."
#2 Granit Xhaka - 5 years, 7 months
Granit Xhaka's stint at the Emirates has been a mixed bag since his arrival from Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer of 2016.
The Swiss international has made nearly 250 appearances for the club, contributing 13 goals and 21 assists. However, his conduct off the field and inconsistent performances on it haven't endeared him to the club's faithful.
Xhaka, who has appeared only 14 times this season, received his fifth red card in English football recently. No other player in the Premier League has had as many dismissals across competitions since Xhaka's arrival on English shores.
Xhaka was touted to leave the club last summer. However, the Gunners did a U-turn by tying down the defensive midfielder to a new contract that would keep him at the Emirates until 2024. Six months later, the Arsenal top brass might be ruing that decision.
#1 Mohamed Elneny - 6 years
Mohamed Elneny has struggled to nail down a spot in the Gunners' XI since arriving at the club from FC Basel in January 2016.
The 29-year-old defensive midfielder has only accrued 140 appearances since then, contributing five goals and nine assists. That includes a season-long loan stint with Besiktas in 2019-20.
Elneny has made only ten appearances across competitions this season and is widely tipped to leave the Gunners on a free transfer in the summer.
It remains to be seen if the fringe player will stay back at Arsenal next season.
