The ball is now firmly in Henrikh Mkhitaryan and, by extension, Mino Raiola's court.
Reports have emerged that Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez has agreed terms with Manchester United. The Chilean will reportedly earn an astonishing £14 million ... after tax.
For Mkhitaryan, the conclusion of his short-term Manchester United career will see him become Arsenal's highest-earning player if he chooses to facilitate the completion of the move.
While rumours abounded regarding the number of top 6 Premier League clubs courting Sanchez's services, the allure of United's spending-power seems to have had the desired reaction.
With the sale of Theo Walcott from Arsenal to Everton having already been sanctioned, Arsene Wenger is presiding over an extremely busy January window.
Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also appears close to joining the North London side. It is a transfer policy that Arsenal legend Ian Wright has serious reservations about:
Everything that is happening is being forced on them through other people. Mkhitaryan is not a player Arsenal have been after - he's a player that Arsenal have been handed.
It's the same with Aubameyang - a couple of years ago, he was on everyone's radar but now he's gone a bit cold. Then all of a sudden he's on Arsenal's radar - it all feels panicky for me.
After serving a three-match touchline ban for his behaviour toward referee Mike Dean, Arsene Wenger's side have not enjoyed a tremendous start on the field this year.
Knocked out of the FA Cup and facing a tough task in a League Cup semi-final second leg against Chelsea, Arsenal could certainly do with the impetus of some inspired signings.
