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Arsenal have two games in five days, and if the worst case happens, it would be the biggest blow to Mikel Arteta since he became manager.
There can be no denying that since Mikel Arteta took over Arsenal during the 2019/20 season, the club has been on an upward trajectory that has now seen them genuinely challenge for the Premier League title.
The Gunners have come close, but are yet to break through, and have not won a trophy since the FA Cup in 2020, which means that while the Gunners have improved out of sight since the days of consistently finishing fourth in the latter days of Arsene Wenger's tenure, nothing substantial has been put in the trophy case.
Which brings us to the next five days.
The Gunners will face PSG in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final, down 1-0 and with everything to do to make the final. Then a couple of days later, the Gunners travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool.
Why do these two games matter so much? Glad you asked.
Arsenal and Mikel Arteta face defining period
Should Arsenal fail to overturn the deficit against PSG, the club will be out of the Champions League, which is bad in itself.
But should Arsenal then fall to Liverpool as well just a couple of days later, and results go against them, there is a very real chance that the Gunners would then have two games to save their top-five status, and potentially Mikel Arteta's job (we don't think he's going anywhere, but others think different).
One can only imagine if, after the season the Gunners have had, to be at the pointy end of the Champions League and Premier League, to then be dumped out by PSG, and then miss out on top five status and Champions League football next season.
We spoke at length about it last week, and now that reality is staring the Gunners in the face.
To think that after this weekend's league games, just four points could separate Arsenal in second and Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa or Newcastle in sixth. Yikes.
If the unthinkable happens, one can only imagine the level of criticism that will come Arteta and Arsenal's way, not to mention what it could do to what Mikel is building and has built since becoming manager.
It could all come crashing down in the worst way in a couple of days' time.
Or, it could be the beginning of something wonderful under the Spaniard's guidance.
Which way will it go?