It is quite possible that Arsenal will start against Liverpool on Sunday with three outfield players who, at the very least, have been seriously considering a future elsewhere. Alexis Sanchez and Hector Bellerin were both told that they would not be sold but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain may well depart next week after so far refusing to accept a new contract.

A fourth player – Mesut Ozil – remains unwilling to commit beyond the end of the season but the one sliver of good news for Arsenal is that they are all available to play at Anfield.

Opponents Liverpool have a player in Philippe Coutinho who is unable to train or play due to a lower-back injury that became public shortly after he had been told that he could not join Barcelona. Liverpool, though, can hardly feel too aggrieved by all the unwanted distraction. They were the preferred destination of Virgil van Dijk, who has himself asked to leave Southampton and consequently played no part in first-team training all summer amid concerns over his mindset.

Diego Costa is even more estranged from Chelsea – despite still being under contract – and his inactivity has now cost him a place in the Spain squad for next month’s World Cup qualifiers.