Kylian Mbappe would only be an emergency signing for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger if Alexis Sanchez leaves

Standard Sport’s John Dillon has his say ahead of Arsenal’s 2017-18 season…

It’s a measure of how high the stakes are for Arsene Wenger next season that he has reportedly promised to quit Arsenal at the end of next season if he fails to deliver a proper title challenge.

Wenger always sees out his contracts - and recently signed a new two-year deal. So it remains to be seen if he would actually break the habit of a lifetime and leave early if things haven't improved by next May.

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The point about this idea, though, is that whatever the future holds, it has some logic.

Springtime protests at the club's inability to compete with the elite any longer would surely be even more harmful than it was last season. Another summer after that of scepticism about what Wenger might achieve in his final year would have the same debilitating effect.

How can he avoid this? There is apparently £100million to spend. But if the current squad - including its best player, Alexis Sanchez, remains together, personnel is not necessarily the major problem.

New, exciting additions like Monaco's Kylian Mbappe would certainly add game-changing ability to the team. If Sanchez goes, the recruitment of another such star would become an emergency situation.

But just as critical is the fact that Wenger has to toughen up the club's mentality.

They proved in the FA Cup final triumph against Chelsea that they can locate a steely will inside of themselves. That has to be present all through the next campaign. This may seem obvious. But it doesn’t seem to have been apparent enough to the manager in recent times.

The Europa League should be a major target, too - not just an irritating sideshow.

It is worth winning for its own sake, which would also be preferable to the perennial last 16 exit from the Champions League. And its intense demands might help Arsenal discover more consistency and mental strength.

Which players would you want YOUR club to sign?