The newspapers have been packed full of rumours of a mass overhaul at the Emirates this week, which, despite some initial debate, has been taken with a pinch of salt by the majority of fans. However, with a number of exciting youngsters returning from loan spells and ready to make an assault on the Arsenal first-team, the speculation is somewhat warranted.

At times this season it’s been hard to see what Tomáš Rosický, Denílson, Sébastien Squillaci and arguably a couple more offer to the squad that Francis Coquelin, Henri Lansbury and Kyle Bartley can’t. All three players have had impressive loans this year and seem the most likely to compete for a first-team spot next season.

Lansbury has turned in some sterling performances and added vital goals to aid Norwich City’s push for automatic promotion, and Coquelin, despite not starting a game since his sending off in February, has racked up plenty of minutes to help Lorient maintain a mid table spot in Ligue One.

Bartley has gone from strength to strength during his spells with Sheffield United and then Rangers, with a particular highlight being his performance at Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League. Unfortunately for Kyle, his spell at Rangers was cut short due to injury, but the Englishman has surely done enough to convince Arsène Wenger that he has all the attributes to suit Premier League football next season.

With all three returning as better players, their prerogative now is to join last year’s loanee Jack Wilshere in not only the first team squad, but the starting eleven. Should that fail to materialise, Wenger runs the risk of losing some of his most prized young assets.

The two maybe men, Carlos Vela and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas have both shown potential when given a chance, but that is the problem; when. Emmanuel-Thomas’ inconsistency and Vela’s lack of opportunity have dealt them no favours, and they may have to settle for further time on loan, or a permanent move away.

The recent outlandish talk of Gael Clichy leaving in the summer has left to some talk about the returning duo of Armand Traoré and the ever improving Pedro Botelho. Juventus have already indicated they are not interested in signing Traoré, so an unhappy return to the reserves looks most likely, unless Arsenal can find a buyer. Botelho should offer competition to the injury prone Gibbs for the right to be Clichy’s understudy.

Elsewhere, Ryo Miyaichi has blossomed at Feyenoord and may be granted a work permit in the summer, only then will Arsenal decide on whether to send the impressive youngster out on loan for a following year or offer a first-team place. However, for other foreign loanees Samuel Galindo and Wellington, they have failed to gain much playing time, and a work permit seems a little far off at the moment, so further loan periods are expected in the near future.

After some encouraging displays at Huddersfield, it is likely Benik Afobe will also go back out on loan for a following season, to help the teenager gain further first team experience.

Unfortunately for Mark Randall, Craig Eastmond, Sanchez Watt and Gilles Sunu, it could be the end of their road with Arsenal, as they have all failed to make an impression at their clubs. The lucky few could be given a chance to prove themselves on loan again next season, but moving on to pastures new is their best option.

As Arsenal’s title challenge hangs in the balance, so does the future of several young Arsenal players who seem destined to leave this summer. Yet with the impending return of some of the most promising young players the club have had for a long time, perhaps the papers are not too far off in suggesting a summer clear out.