Predicting which model of Arsenal will flip up on a weekly foundation has proved troublesome throughout Mikel Arteta 's two-year reign.
However since returning to the Emirates as supervisor in 2019, the Spaniard has begun what's nothing wanting a revolution among the many taking part in workers, changing the outdated with the brand new.
Mesut Ozil and Sokratis, each 33, and 34-year-old David Luiz have departed. Willian, 33, was signed after which let go 12 months later. Alexandre Lacazette, 30, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 32, may but comply with, maybe as quickly as January.
As an alternative, a vibrant group of youthful gamers, who on Boxing Day helped the Gunners thrash Norwich 5-0 to cement their place within the high 4, now largely lead proceedings.
Bukayo Saka, 20, stole the present at Carrow Highway with two objectives, whereas fellow academy product Emile Smith Rowe, 21, went above Cristiano Ronaldo within the goalscoring chart together with his eighth strike of the season late on.
A couple of days earlier, Eddie Nketiah, 22, netted a hat-trick and Charlie Patino, 18, additionally scored on his senior debut because the Gunners certified for the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a 5-1 win towards Sunderland.
Gabriel Martinelli has additionally impressed and nailed down a beginning spot in latest weeks, with Martin Odegaard and Aaron Ramsdale among the many younger gamers to have additionally caught the attention for Arteta's in-form aspect.
Right this moment's sport towards Wolves could have been postponed because of Covid however all this has come just some months after a summer season during which six gamers - all aged 23 or below - had been signed within the switch market and who've excelled ever since. So are they essentially the most thrilling crop of children in Europe proper now?
'It's got to be up there,' Arsenal legend Lee Dixon tells Sportsmail. 'I believe nice credit score has to go to Arteta for giving these gamers alternatives.
'It's a gamble. Not many golf equipment go down the route of signing gamers below 23 years of age when you may have children coming by on the similar time.
'They're a really, very younger aspect and with that comes the danger of inconsistency, which we have now seen from different groups but additionally this aspect this season. You must take that on the chin as a result of that's what you get.
'For him [Arteta] to come back to the membership with an inventory of gamers, and also you have a look at the age teams of these gamers, it could be fairly simple for the membership to say "that may be a large danger, we have now little expertise, how are we going to undergo the robust months or a foul run?"
'However they've caught by Arteta's plan and nice credit score has to go to the membership for permitting that coverage as a result of it's paying off now.
'The spectacular factor is you do see a plan in the mean time, you may work out what Arsenal try to do, and all of the gamers are shopping for into the philosophy. The long run appears fairly rosy in the mean time.'
Dixon, nonetheless, insists he's by no means one to go overboard and too far forward of himself. 'There might be sticky patches once more in the long run this season, there is no doubt about that,' he provides.
These tough and awkward encounters have typically come towards the most effective within the nation. Two of their opening three defeats this time period arrived towards Chelsea and towards Manchester Metropolis, whereas a 4-0 drubbing at Liverpool is a more moderen reminiscence.
New 12 months's Day sees the Premier League champions go to the Emirates, a sport during which Dixon insists Arsenal should buck the pattern of collapsing towards considered one of Europe's most elite sides.
'You have to be judging yourselves towards the groups you're aiming to emulate. They're miles off Liverpool and Man Metropolis and Chelsea to a sure extent, however these two [Liverpool and City] are manner forward of all people.
'If you happen to pit yourselves towards them and make an excellent present of it... that may not essentially be a win, typically you may take extra out of a efficiency than you may a outcome.
'However if you happen to can go and match them and present you may compete at that stage, then virtually with a younger aspect the result's secondary since you are in a means of with the ability to compete at that stage within the high 4.
'They've proven they'll thus far, however they've to play the large groups. The sport towards Liverpool, they fell brief. They weren't on this type they're in now, in order that's an excellent factor.
'However you've got to have the ability to get up in that tunnel and look over and go "I'm not petrified of that badge in your chest, I've bought this cannon on right here and we're going to compete".
'This bunch of children appear to be they've began to stay their chests out a bit which is nice to see.'
Whereas the youthful gamers have led by instance this season, the membership's captaincy state of affairs stays messy after the armband was stripped from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - the membership's best-paid and arguably most high-profile participant.
Sportsmail understands Barcelona are serious about signing Aubameyang on mortgage in January, with the £350,000-per-week star frozen out by Arteta following his newest disciplinary breach.
However rule No 1 for Dixon is 'there's at all times a manner again for a goalscorer' - particularly one who has netted 92 objectives for the membership - within the brief time period, even when his long-term prospects seem fairly extra bleak.
'In case you are a coach with any brains you by no means rule out your finest goalscorer within the membership. After all there will be a time frame the place he isn't in favour and he's proper in the course of that now.
'If Arsenal had been to get a few accidents and be ready the place they wanted him, I'm fairly certain the size of time Arteta goes to maintain him out may simply get somewhat bit shorter. If he is available in and will get a few objectives abruptly he is again in favour once more.
'However I'm not saying he ought to keep on the membership. I believe it was proper he misplaced the captaincy and he has fairly rightly been sanctioned by the supervisor and the membership.
'I'm fairly certain Arteta has his personal concept on who he ought to have up entrance, and I am fairly certain given what has gone on it isn't going to be Aubameyang.
'Long run, he will not be on the membership for an excessive amount of longer. If any individual is sniffing round to take him elsewhere, I believe Arteta would leap at that chance in January.'
Dixon is equally uncertain who may substitute him as a striker in the summertime, however believes Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin - who Sportsmail perceive the Gunners are serious about - can be an excellent match.
'Would I prefer to see Calvert-Lewin at Arsenal? I believe sure. I believe you'd wrestle to get one of many high, high strikers like [Erling] Haaland.
'It could be a step up for Calvert-Lewin, no disrespect to Everton. I like him, I believe he is bought potential to be nearly as good as he desires to be. He's match and athletic, he's robust and good within the air and an excellent finisher. I might take him.'
In the interim although, Lacazette seems to have taken his shut pal's place within the XI.
However the load of the captaincy is being shared by what has change into generally known as the 'management group', which incorporates the Frenchman, Granit Xhaka and Rob Holding.
Lacazette at the moment wears the armband, whereas Martin Odegaard and Kieran Tierney have additionally been talked about as Aubameyang's everlasting substitute as skipper.
Dixon struggles to decide on one identify for the instant future, however believes goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is a 'captain with out an armband'.
'I am not an enormous fan of getting forwards as captains. It does not sit proper with me. I believe Tierney is the longer term captain, however I am undecided if now's the suitable time.
'However he [Ramsdale] is a captain with out an armband. He does not want an armband on him, he's main from behind.
'Dave Seaman is my finest mate and we speak about him quite a bit. He's massively impressed with what he sees with what he's doing together with his fingers and his place and his taking part in out from the again.
'The way in which he has linked with the followers, and the away followers at occasions, is good, so he's taking part in a captain's function on the again. I do not suppose he's proper to be captain proper now although.'
One other Gunners legend has additionally been speaking up one of many present members of the squad, with Ian Wright calling for an 'apology as loud because the disrespect' to be given to Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Sky reporter Kaveh Solhekol went on air because the defender's summer season transfer from Bologna was being finalised and stated that Tomiyasu is not 'actually a right-back' and that he had been supplied to most top-flight golf equipment earlier than the Gunners agreed a deal to signal him.
However the Japan defender has gone about his enterprise quietly since becoming a member of, maybe within the understated but essential method during which 'Invincible' Lauren operated in that place practically twenty years in the past now.
Dixon stops wanting making that comparability, however insists the Japan star's relationship with centre-back Ben White might be essential to any success he has on the membership.
'I believe he [Tomiyasu] has actually taken the attention, there isn't a doubt about that. However you will not right here me eulogise like Wrighty about positions he has no concept about!
'I am joking! He's proper to sing Tomiyasu's praises as a result of he has executed brilliantly. He has actually not bought the stature of a typical full again. Having stated that, [Marcos] Alonso [at Chelsea] is tall and an analogous stature to him.
'He has been superb at popping out with the ball. His link-up play with the midfield and forwards has been nice. He's an athlete who will get up and down brilliantly properly, and he's nice within the air.
'He has nonetheless bought some work to do so far as defending and his positional play. However that's like a lot of the full-backs I have a look at now. That may include time, and can are available in constructing a relationship with Ben White.
'Lauren was completely different as a result of I used to be with him when he got here to the membership, he performed in entrance of me till I stepped again and he took over my place.
'I noticed first-hand how good a participant Lauren was. I used to be very happy handy the No 2 shirt over to him, as a result of I knew it was in secure fingers, as a result of he was a really, superb footballer.
'He was arduous as nails and knew his place. I had inside information on him, however I am not on the coaching floor with Tomiyasu and I do not see him each day, however what I've seen thus far on match day has been massively spectacular.'
Amazon Prime Video will solely broadcast 10 Premier League fixtures between the Twenty eighth-Thirtieth December. Lee Dixon was because of be on punditry duties for Arsenal vs Wolves on December Twenty eighth earlier than the sport was postponed.
