As the despair has set in at the Emirates Stadium in recent weeks, with Arsenal’s season falling apart along with their Europa League campaign, Mikel Arteta has made no attempt to conceal his belief that his squad needs changing.

In order for new players to come in, some of the existing faces will have to go out. If Arteta and technical director Edu have their way this summer, there could be as many as a dozen players leaving the club in the coming weeks.

The final few matches of the season, then, will provide us with an even clearer indication of who might stay and who might be shoved towards the exit door. It certainly felt instructive to look at Arteta’s team sheet for their hard-fought victory at Chelsea on Wednesday, as he essentially seemed to have chosen the players he wants to keep in the long-term.

In short, this was a team that Arteta trusts, or at least one that he believes in. Of the players who started, only goalkeeper Bernd Leno is expected to leave this summer, although there are also doubts over the future of midfielder Mohamed Elneny.

Martin Odegaard, on loan from Real Madrid, will be returning to Spain as it stands, but there is no doubt that Arteta would like to sign him on a permanent basis. While it remains to be seen whether that is possible, picking him for the final few matches would clearly help Arteta’s attempts to convince the Norwegian to stick around.

And so this team was an Arteta team, or at least something close to what he might envisage to be his team next season. It was telling that he chose Bukayo Saka as the starting right wing-back, rather than actual right-backs Hector Bellerin, Cedric Soares and Calum Chambers. All three of them could depart this summer.

In their performance, Arteta’s chosen few returned some of the faith that the Arsenal manager has shown in them. Having taken the lead through Emile Smith Rowe (another player who is a major part of the long-term plan) they defended resolutely for long spells at Stamford Bridge.

On the ball, Arteta’s attacking play was far from being the ultra-progressive style that the Spaniard wants. Indeed for much of the evening it felt like a return to last summer, when Arsenal used a deep-lying defence to fight their way to the FA Cup trophy.

Perhaps it was a reflection of the personnel, and an explanation for Arteta’s team selection, that Arsenal defended with such resilience when they had so little to play for, aside from pride and the tiniest hope of still qualifying for European football. Elneny scrapped in midfield, Rob Holding battled in defence, Kieran Tierney never stopped running on the left.

Some of the more critical supporters have asked why Arteta is still in the job, and this showing went some way to answering those questions. A section of fans might have given up on Arteta, but the players have not. Many of them remain fiercely loyal to their manager and it would be no exaggeration to say that some of them would be devastated if he left.

Again, the defensive nature of the performance was not a reflection of Arteta’s long-term vision. But the players on the pitch at Stamford Bridge will no doubt form the core part of a squad that could be dramatically reshaped in the weeks to come.

Here, Telegraph Sport examines which players could leave, how likely they are to be sold and what sort of fee Arsenal might expect to receive for them.

Bernd Leno

Age: 29
Contract expires: 2023

The feeling among some within the club is that Leno’s time at Arsenal is coming to an end. The German said in April that he was open to a “new adventure” and he has never looked entirely comfortable with the ball at his feet, a key requirement of his manager.

He has made a series of individual errors this season, which will not have helped his cause, but Arsenal would still expect to generate at least £15m for him. Football analytics website Transfermarkt, which specialises in transfers, values Leno at £22.5m.

Hector Bellerin

Age: 26
Contract expires: 2023

Bellerin was close to leaving last summer but eventually decided to stay after holding talks with Arteta. The Arsenal manager has said he understood why Bellerin had doubts over remaining at the club after so many years in north London (he joined 10 years ago).

The key question is not whether Bellerin leaves, but where he might go. Paris Saint-Germain showed interest last summer but it remains to be seen whether they would pursue a move in the coming months.

Bellerin’s form has been patchy this season and in recent weeks Arteta has often chosen Calum Chambers at right-back instead. Arsenal might hope for a fee of around £25m, but it would come as no surprise if they were to ultimately accept a lower offer.

David Luiz

Age: 34
Contract expires: 2021

Luiz is a key member of the side, on and off the pitch, and when fit is one of the first names on Arteta’s team sheet. At the age of 34, though, his fitness has become increasingly difficult to maintain.

His contract expires this summer and it is unlikely that Arsenal would offer him another year on the same terms. Would he be interested in staying on a reduced salary, or accepting a role as a bit-part player? Luiz told Telegraph Sport last season that he wants to go into coaching when he is 40, and play until he is 38.

Alexandre Lacazette

Age: 29
Contract expires: 2022

With one year remaining on his deal, this will be Arsenal’s last chance to cash in on Lacazette. The Frenchman is Arsenal’s top scorer with 17 goals this season, and has been one of their best players since Christmas, but it still remains highly unlikely that the club would decide to offer another lucrative contract to an ageing forward player.

Atletico Madrid have tried to sign Lacazette in the past and there will be suitors across Europe for a player of his calibre. Transfermarkt values Lacazette at around £31m but, at his age and with just one year remaining on his deal, it would be a surprise if Arsenal could generate such a significant fee for the Frenchman.

Joe Willock

Age: 21
Contract expires: 2023

One of the trickier situations for Arsenal to manage. Willock has enjoyed a successful loan spell at Newcastle United and will be worth around £20m this summer, if not more. Newcastle have made it clear they would like to sign him permanently.

But, as it stands, Arsenal could be worryingly short of central midfield players. Willock has never seemed suited to Arteta’s style but he has shown in the past few months that he is capable of contributing at the Emirates. The considerable size of the likely fee means the expectation is that Willock will depart, but it might be worth waiting until later in the window for any deal to be sanctioned.

Granit Xhaka

Age: 28
Contract expires: 2023

Xhaka has become such a key part of this Arsenal team, before and during Arteta’s reign, that it is strange to imagine the midfield without him. He is another player with two years remaining on his deal, though, and this might represent the best time to extract maximum value from a midfielder who has had his fair share of difficulties at the club over the years.

As one of the few natural leaders of the team, it is hard to believe that Arsenal would be entirely happy for Xhaka to leave. But there have always been questions about his mobility and this could be the summer in which the right offer materialises.

Reiss Nelson

Age: 21
Contract expires: 2023

Nelson has not featured in the Premier League since November, which gives an indication of his standing in Arteta’s squad. The winger chose against going on loan at the start of the season but has since struggled for regular action.

His lack of minutes for the first team will not deter potential buyers from targeting a player of his obvious potential, but equally it will not help Arsenal’s cause when it comes to demanding a significant transfer fee. His value on Transfermarkt is £9m.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles

Age: 23
Contract expires: 2023

Another player who almost left last summer and looks certain to do so now. Maitland-Niles has spent the last few months at West Bromwich Albion, where he has been a regular in central midfield under Sam Allardyce.

Having played for England at the start of this season, and with his ability to play in multiple positions, Maitland-Niles will be of interest to a number of Premier League clubs. A fee in the region of £15m to £20m should be enough to secure his signature.

Eddie Nketiah

Age: 21
Contract expires: 2022

With one year remaining on Nketiah’s deal and no sign of him returning to Arteta’s first team any time soon, the expectation is that the striker will find a new club this summer. Arsenal have given a new deal to young forward Folarin Balogun, who will expect to have his own first-team opportunities in the coming years.

Nketiah’s future could be tied in with Alexandre Lacazette’s situation but, as reported by Telegraph Sport, Arsenal are on the hunt for a new striker in the coming transfer window. It is clear that Nketiah is not seen as the long-term No 9.

Cedric Soares

Age: 29
Contract expires: 2024

Cedric is only a recent addition, on a free transfer from Southampton, but he has fallen down the pecking order in recent weeks. The Portuguese full-back has not started a game since the Europa League draw against Slavia Prague in early April, and Arteta preferred to play Bukayo Saka at right wing-back against Chelsea on Wednesday night. Finding a buyer could be tricky, however.

Matteo Guendouzi

Age: 22
Contract expires: 2022

The combustible French midfielder is not expected to reignite an Arsenal career that fell apart in dramatic circumstances last year, when he found himself on the wrong side of Arteta due to various disciplinary issues.

Guendouzi has spent this season on loan in Germany, at Hertha Berlin, and is clearly a talented prospect. There should be interest from across Europe, despite the question marks over his attitude, and Arsenal might be able to raise around £15m through his sale.

Lucas Torreira

Age: 25
Contract expires: 2023

After such an impressive start to life in England, Torreira lost his form after being moved out of position by Unai Emery, and has never seemed suited to Arteta’s style. Arsenal had hoped to sell him last summer but could only find a loan move, to Atletico Madrid.

Personal issues have not helped him during his time in Spain but the loan has not been a success. He has expressed his desire to join Boca Juniors but a move to Europe would appear more likely from a financial point of view. Either way, he is not expected to return to Arsenal.

Calum Chambers

Age: 26
Contract expires: 2022

It is decision time for Arsenal. With one year left on the defender’s deal, do they offer him a new one or decide to sell him now? Chambers has a good attitude, is versatile and has impressed since recovering from a long-term injury, so it would be no surprise if he is kept at the club. If not, there will be Premier League interest.

Mohamed Elneny

Age: 28
Contract expires: 2022

Elneny’s situation is similar to that of Chambers. He has one year left on his deal, but he is a popular figure within the dressing room and the sort of option who could be extremely useful over the course of the season. Against big teams especially, Elneny has proven himself to be a valuable member of the squad this season.

There are good arguments for at least keeping Elneny at Arsenal until the end of his deal and allowing him to leave for free next summer. Not least because his wages might prevent potential buyers making a move for him this year.

Willian

Age: 32
Contract expires: 2023

Clearly, the decision to sign Willian has not worked out as anyone expected. Least of all Willian himself. The Brazilian has made clear how frustrating this campaign has been for him, while there is no doubt that Arteta and Edu expected more.

The size of his salary, and the fact he has two years remaining on his deal, would suggest it is unlikely that another club would take the Brazilian off Arsenal’s hands. Might he take a pay cut to go elsewhere?

Sead Kolasinac

Age: 27
Contract expires: 2022

Arsenal fans should expect Kolasinc to follow his good friends Mesut Ozil and Shkodran Mustafi out of the exit door. He was loaned to Schalke in January and Arsenal will certainly look to sell him on a permanent basis this summer, even if the fee would doubtless be relatively small. They are already on the hunt for a different back-up left-back. Kolasinac’s Transfermarkt valuation is around £7m.

Konstantinos Mavropanos

Age: 23
Contract expires: 2023

Mavropanos has spent the past two years on loan in Germany, and has made 21 Bundesliga appearances for Stuttgart this season. Arsenal are well-stocked for central defenders, especially with William Saliba returning from his loan at the end of this season, so it is hard to see a clear pathway for Mavropanos into the first team, unless he has a hugely impressive pre-season.