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When was the last time fans could totally relax while watching Arsenal in a Premier League game? Given that, of their 25 wins this season, eight have been 1-0 and 13 have been by a single goal, every match feels like an ordeal from start to finish. Even Manchester City's draw at Bournemouth that confirmed Mikel Arteta's team as champions had a stressful bit at the end, but thankfully Erling Braut Håland's late strike was too little too late.
Sunday's final day of the season clash though will be very different. Arsenal will be presented with the trophy after full time, while both they and hosts Crystal Palace have historic European finals coming up, so will heavily rotate for a match likely to be played at an intensity more associated with Socceraid than a Premier League game.
However, with the Champions League final at the Puskás Aréna six days later, Artera needs to find a balance between simply resting everybody and keeping key players sharp, as well as handing minutes to those who may need some. Here though are five players Arteta should most strongly consider wrapping in cotton wool or bubble wrap, or whatever he has available in his office at London Colney.
David Raya
One player who should solely travel to Selhurst to hoist the trophy aloft after full time is David Raya. When the Spanish goalkeeper required treatment for a little longer than usual following a clash with Burnley's Zian Flemming on Monday night, there was an audible hush of anxiety around the Emirates.
It appears as though Raya was totally fine but, with the Champions League final to come, every Arsenal fan recognises just how important he is. This season, in 50 appearances, he has racked up 28 clean sheets and conceded only 30 goals. This has landed the 30 year old a third successive Premier League golden glove, on top of shipping only nine goals in 13 Champions League outings.
Back-up Kepa Arrizabalaga did not make himself an overly popular figure following his less than impressive display in the Carabao Cup final defeat. Nevertheless, even his staunchest critics won't mind seeing Kepa given a start on Sunday, or even some minutes for third-choice Tommy Setford.
Declan Rice
One of the biggest moments of Arsenal's Premier League title triumph came seconds after Anthony Taylor had blown his full time whistle at the Etihad. Despite defeat against Manchester City, Declan Rice's rallying cry "it's not done" epitomised the new found mental resilience this team possesses.
Well, if any player personifies the idiom of giving one's all for the badge, it is Rice. He has accumulated 4,336 minutes for Arsenal this season, and 12,738 in total across three campaigns since arriving from West Ham. During this period, he has featured in 157 of Arsenal's 171 matches, missing only three due to injury and two suspended.
Thus, if anyone has earned a breather it is Rice. If Arsenal stand any chance of competing with PSG's first-choice midfield trio of João Neves, Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz, they need Rice to be on top form so, who knows, Christian Nørgaard might even start a Premier League game for Arsenal for the very first time.
Martin Ødegaard
Another player who will vital to the Gunners' hopes of being crowned champions of Europe at the Puskás Aréna will be Martin Ødegaard. Following some really poor performances at Wembley and then against Southampton and Bournemouth, many were confused as to why Arsenal put in a much better display in defeat at the Etihad soon after. Well, Ødegaard's return was a number one factor behind this.
The club captain has received plenty of criticism this season, with supporters wanting more from a player who has just one goal and eight assists to his name. Nevertheless, Arteta does not have anyone else in his squad who can do what the Norwegian can. His expert assist for Leandro Trossard's crucial late winner at West Ham encapsulating what Ødegaard is all about.
The captain also leads and conducts Arsenal off the ball shape and pressing, constantly pointing and directing team mates what to do and where to be. Well, given how good les Parisiens are in possession, this is something they cannot do without in Budapest. Instead, Eberechi Eze should be given the start against his former side, with Ødegaard potentially afforded half an hour at the end.
Kai Havertz
The biggest conundrum facing Mikel Arteta ahead of the Champions League final is who to start at centre-forward. Having been frankly pretty unconvincing for the majority of the campaign, Viktor Gyökeres has looked like a totally different player since April turned to May.
The Swede was outstanding during both legs against Atlético Madrid, emphatically converting a spot-kick at the Metropolitano, in trademark fashion. Meanwhile, his most complete display for the club came against Fulham in-between, scoring twice and registering an assist too. In these games, it finally appear as though he had some serious chemistry with his teammates.
Thus, it was a major surprise when Arteta selected Kai Havertz as his striker against Burnley on Monday, albeit he was clearly vindicated, as the German header home the night's only goal. So, who does he go for against PSG? Well, the plan was always to select Havertz in big games, this shelved due to the injury issues he has suffered across the last 16 months. Nevertheless, it is likely to be the German for the final, albeit who gets what minutes in South London may give us a clue.
Bukayo Saka
We've saved the most obvious player to be wrapped in cotton wool for last. If anyone needs to be protected at all costs it's Bukayo Saka. The 24 year old missed five matches between the EFL Cup final and 25 April, seeing nine minutes off the bench against Newcastle upon his return, with Arteta openly admitting that his star attacker is still nursing an Achilles issue.
Arteta also noted that Saka was back quicker than expected, starting the last three league fixtures, scoring and assisting against Fulham, as well as providing the corner for Monday's winner. Thus, there is literally nothing to gain by playing Saka against Palace, especially given the top-quality alternatives.
Noni Madueke, who was also included in Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad on Friday, is a more than capable deputy for this deadest of dead rubbers. Meantime, Arteta also has Max Dowman at his disposal, so could he start a league game for the first time? Fair to say, having become the youngest-ever Premier League champion, Dowman has had a better week than most others also sitting GCSEs.
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