With the buzzards and vultures circling Arsenal’s Champion League-less carcass, it seems the scavenger birds are intent on picking off the finest cuts of meat.

It’s not impossible

Bellerin, Özil and Alexis all have clubs vying for their attention.

Özil looks the most likely to stay this summer, with wages of £280,000 being mooted for the German playmaker.

Bellerin could also stay as long as he doesn’t fall asleep in the company of Pepe Reina, Gerard Pique and Carlos Puyol and wake up in full Barcelona pyjamas and a forged signature on a contract.

Alexis, sadly, looks set to leave. The Chilean cut a forlorn figure last season, looking increasingly frustrated with both teammates and management at the club.

His loss will be severely felt. He is the club’s leading scorer in the Premier League with 24 goals, double Giroud’s tally, who comes in at second place. His ability to create something out of nothing is the most valuable commodity in football.

Arsenal have had players in the past who have scored similar season totals to Alexis’ but very few who have that rare ability to conjure something from nothing. He is a big game player with a ruthlessness so rarely seen at Arsenal.

Would Walcott or Giroud have tucked the ball past Thibaut Courtois in the FA Cup final if they had suspected offside or hand ball? I sincerely doubt it.

What’s interesting is that he seems to fair better away from home than at the Emirates.

This may be due to teams being forced to act offensively in their home games allowing space for Arsenal in behind or it may be a result of Alexis’ winning mentality. Whatever the reason, it has allowed Arsenal to go to some very difficult stadiums and get some hard earned points.

Alexis is one of the few players in the squad who feels entitled to shoot on sight. Wenger often feels the urge to coach this instinctive shooting out of his players. However, Wenger either feels that Alexis is capable of forcing a goal, more often than not, or the Chilean simply hasn’t listened to Wenger’s instructions.

Alexis is not just a goal-scorer. He also leads the assists charts at the club. Despite a wonderful selfishness from the Chilean in front of goal, Alexis still knows when to square or tee up a colleague. This in itself is hard to teach. Many players, and you will notice this with Ramsey more than anyone, fail to assess their options once they get into a decent shooting position. Sanchez, normally has the ability to score or failing that, usually picks out the right option.

So leading scorer and top of the assist charts last season, how does Wenger replace that?

As a player alone, it’s difficult. Why would top players want to join Arsenal when the depiction of the club is one of apathy and indifference to winning trophies? Alexis joined believing that Arsenal would continue to sign players of a similar calibre but that didn’t prove to be true.

After signing Alexis, Arsenal Football Club were in a position of power: they were in the Champions League; they had just signed one of the most exciting players at the World Cup; and looked like a club who would be competing for major trophies again. However, three years later and not much has changed – other than Arsenal’s rivals getting stronger whilst Arsenal stagnated.

It is not, however, impossible.

Arsenal are unlikely to ever compete with Real Madrid or Barcelona for the world’s elite – at least not with Stan Kroenke as owner. However, there are players of similar pedigree available, who could certainly match that of Alexis’.

Let’s not forget, Alexis was unwanted by Barcelona. He was deemed surplus to requirements. That is no slight on the Chilean, rather an indication that there are options available to Arsenal.

Next chapter:
2. Target an outcast from one of the elite

Target an outcast from one of the elite

At the time of writing, it seems that James Rodriguez and Alvaro Morata are unwanted by Real Madrid – having played a total of 2,400 minutes between them. Arda Turan and Denis Suarez, two incredibly talented players are also frustrated with a lack of game time at Barcelona. Not to mention the insanely talented Douglas Costa at Bayern who failed to cement a first team position in Germany, despite the aging legs of Ribery and Robben.

Whilst you could argue whether any of these players could fill Alexis’ boots sufficiently, there is no shortage of options from those clubs above Arsenal and no insult in Arsenal taking the elite’s outcasts – since that is how Arsenal procured Özil and Alexis in the first place.

Whilst I would be less inclined on Denis Suarez as a replacement, any of Morata, Rodriguez, Turan or Costa could help counterbalance the loss of Alexis.

Morata, despite starting 14 games in La Liga, managed to find the net 15 times. The Spaniard was also able to assist a colleague on four occasions. The striker is young enough to be value for money, even with Madrid’s asking price, but experienced enough to warrant paying it.

Another option would be Real Madrid’s forgotten man: James Rodriguez. It is no shame to be behind Bale and Isco in Madrid’s midfield. Yet, Rodriguez continues to impress when called upon. In a measly 14 starts, the Columbian scored eight and assisted six goals. At the age of 25, a heavy price tag would be outweighed by the longevity of his transfer and the touch of class he would bring to Arsenal’s attacking lineup.

Arda Turan’s numbers may be less impressive with only three goals and three assists in 14 starts, however, his all round play and his defensive contribution could go far in making his lesser numbers more valuable. Although the Turk has played the majority of his games in attacking midfield, there remains a suspicion that he could play in centre midfield and become an imposing attacking force from deep.

Douglas Costa, similarly, has failed to impress in terms of output. However, he remains an incredibly dangerous player whose pace and delivery would surely become an asset on Arsenal’s wings.

If Wenger doesn’t manage to convince Alexis to sign, then using the transfer money recouped, Arsenal would be hard pressed to find four better available alternatives.

Next chapter:
3. Pursue a rival’s key player

Pursue a rival’s key player

When backed against the wall, the only way to defend oneself is to come out swinging. If Wenger is to lose Alexis to a rival, whether that be home or abroad, then Arsenal should target a similar player at a club just outside the elite.

Players wish to play in the Champions League. However, ultimately, money talks. If Wenger believes there is a player outside of Barcelona and Real Madrid who would offset Alexis’ departure, then Arsenal should pursue him.

Juventus, although Champions League finalists on two occasions in the last few years, are not immune to losing star players. They consigned themselves to losing Pogba a year ago and who is to say that they would not accept a substantial bid for another star player.

The Argentinian Dybala has long excited those in Italian football. Allegri, has pushed Dybala to a wide position in order to utilise Dani Alves predilection for marauding forward to try and recreate the relationship he once had with Messi. Dybala can dribble, pass, commit players and score vital goals. He is as close to a Messi-replica as you are likely to see in this generation. It would take him time to adapt to the physicality of the Premier League but at the age of 23 he would have plenty of time to do so.

Alternatively, Wenger could look to strengthen the team’s goal output at centre forward to compensate for a lack of creativity. One potential target could be Dortmund goal machine: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The Gabon forward scored an astonishing 31 goals in 31 appearances for Borussia Dortmund this season. He is lethal in front of goal with a shot accuracy of 63% according to Squawka. His relentless pressing and pace would modify how Arsenal play and perhaps give Özil a new leaf of life. He would cost an astronomical price but he would be worth it.

Next chapter:
4. Revert to a two-man forward line

Revert to a two-man forward line

Wenger could offset Alexis’ departure by altering the formation yet again.

When Arsenal lost both Bergkamp and Henry, Wenger was quick to realise that there were few players who could form such a devastating partnership and hence altered what was a winning structure. He has, for the most, adhered to his attacking formation with one lone striker and two/three support acts. However, Wenger could adjust his formation to find a striker that could work in conjunction with Olivier Giroud.

The striker is an excellent target man with wonderful link up play. What he lacks in speed he makes up for with deft flicks and delightful finishing. Giroud, however, is not suited to a lone front man position if the team relies on a rapid counterattacking style. A front two with someone more agile, astute and deadly in the box could compensate for an Alexis departure.

If Wenger is to revert to a front coupling, then Giroud would have to be paired with someone whose ability compliments his own. One possible player would be Alexandre Lacazette.

The French forward has again exceeded expectations in the French league with an impressive 28 goals in the same number of games. He has proven that that he deserves a chance at the next level and pairing him with a national compatriot could solve a number of Wenger’s issues. With Wenger adopting a wing back system, Arsenal would not be as reliant on Alexis’ width, allowing Arsenal to move Özil central and allow him to utilise the pace of a more mobile forward or allow Giroud to hold it up whilst the team follows in support.

Of course it is not just pace that is needed for such a partnership to succeed, otherwise Wenger would have paired Walcott and Giroud a lot sooner. The relevant partner needs to have good movement, be clinical, smart, aggressive and consistently scoring.

It would be a brave move to alter the formation again after so recently finding success with a wingback structure. Yet, it may be necessary if Alexis leaves the club.

Arsenal fans will bemoan the loss of Alexis.

He is obviously pivotal to how the team plays. However, the club have lost big players in the past and still attracted star names. Alexis’ departure cannot result in the club feeling sorry for itself, this is a time for action, not reaction.

There are options in the market, it is up to Wenger to convince them to give him a chance – just like he did with the board.