Arsenal boss Unai Emery has said that the club may not pursue a direct replacement for Aaron Ramsey when the transfer window reopens at the end of the campaign. The Wales international has already agreed a pre-contract with Juventus and he is scheduled to join the Bianconeri in the summer when his Gunners deal expires.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Emery suggested that the club may not necessarily enter the market to replace Ramsey, considering they have plenty of young players, who can progress from the academy, he said: “Yes, but there are also players coming through from the academy who are producing good performances and who could progress. We could replace him with a player from outside, or with a player who is already here who can grow like he did himself.”

When asked whether the qualification for the Champions League would enhance the transfer business for the summer, Emery refused to give away much by going with the 50/50 route, he added: “There could be a lot of movement in terms of signings and departures. Or there could be a little, but first of all I believe there is a good base for the team already here.”

The north London giants have succumbed to defeats in four of the previous five league matches and this has dropped them outside of the top four. Nonetheless, they are within two points off fourth-placed Chelsea and they could yet qualify for the Champions League through the division, should the Blues stumble during the remaining two matches.

Elsewhere, Emery’s team are competing for potential silverware through the Europa League, where they have reached the final four. The north Londoners are scheduled to face Valencia during the semi-final stage of the competition and a victory through both legs could see them tackle either Chelsea or Eintracht Frankfurt for the title, which offers them another route to next season’s Champions League.