Arsenal's ability to challenge for title down to Mikel Arteta?

Mikel Arteta might be more responsible for Arsenal's future title challenges, with the Spaniard needing to keep talent at the club.

Since Mikel Arteta took over Arsenal, gone are the days when the best players leave for greener pastures. Instead, talent is now acquired instead of being let go.

With the Gunners being consistent challengers for the Premier League title for the past couple of seasons, the feeling is that Arsenal is right there when it comes to finally breaking their title drought.

But as the summer approaches, all eyes are on the club's striker search after the football malpractice of not investing last summer and in the January transfer window, as the Gunners' title dream ended as a result, with Liverpool now 12 points clear.

However, this summer there could be even more on Arteta's plate as it pertains to future Premier League title races - his ability to keep star players.

Can Arsenal keep stars for Premier League title chase?

Part of any great team is the ability to convince the star players that it is worth sticking around and for Arsenal, prior to Arteta, that was hard to do with Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri two players who immediately spring to mind who thought the grass was greener...and it was.

But now, Arteta's vision is about to get seriously tested if a report via The Sun is to be believed with the club wanting to retain three star players.

The report, per GOAL.com, states that the futures of William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Bukayo Saka are all at the forefront of the club's mind and Arteta is key to securing the futures of the trio.

For most, the thought of Saka not being in an Arsenal shirt is nightmare fuel, but the report stats that Saka's contract is a "formality" however what about Saliba and Gabriel?

Both have suitors and this will be the sternest test of Arteta's project. Get both to re-commit.

This is why there is such a premium on the club getting its transfer business right with a star striker, and even another midfielder to show that the club is going where it is supposed to.

In previous years before Arteta, players left for better opportunities, but now we are about to see if the Gunners can keep hold of their star power, and this summer might prove decisive.

READ ALL THE LATEST ARSENAL NEWS HERE!!!