Cesc Fabregas last night dropped a bombshell by admitting he would quit Arsenal if Arsene Wenger leaves this summer.
Gunners captain Fabregas, 21, is being targeted by Real Madrid, who have also put Wenger on their hit-list to become their new manager.
Wenger's own position is now being questioned by Arsenal fans fed-up by four barren years.
That has led to midfielder Fabregas admitting he would consider his own future if the manager was forced out of the Emirates.
The Spain Euro 2008 hero said: "I have heard the rumours about Wenger leaving Arsenal for the past three years.
"If he left the club then of course I would consider my own future and whether I would leave the club. I am happy at Arsenal and I believe that we and Barcelona play the best football in Europe. But Wenger is a main part of that."
Arsenal are already facing a fight to keep Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott, who are in the middle of contract negotiations and may consider their futures if the club does not reach the Champions League.
Real Madrid are also hoping to take advantage of the unrest at Arsenal by making moves for Wenger and Fabregas.
It is now becoming clear that Wenger is central to keeping Fabregas and Arsenal's other prize assets and the current fan unrest - which has seen supporters openly question the manager at the last annual meeting - has left the club in turmoil.
But Fabregas insists he will be back from his knee injury soon and says he can still help Arsenal reach the fourth Champions League place.
He added: "I want to return by April and I still believe that we can finish in the top four and reach the Champions League.
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Meanwhile, Andrey Arshavin has admitted playing for Arsenal is a lot harder than it looks on TV.
The Russian midfielder, a controversial £12million arrival in the final hour of deadline day, has been struggling to come to terms with the fitness levels required in the Premier League.
He was hampered by arriving during the long winter break in Russia, and has already revealed the pace of the game is taking time to get used to.
Arshavin has played three times for Arsenal and has yet to score despite being one of the top stars in Europe. The 27-year-old said: "I watched the matches that were broadcast in Russia whenever possible.
"But to tell the truth it seemed less difficult on TV. Only now do I understand how dynamic and hard the football is here.
"Now I would like to score as soon as possible. Everybody expected me to score in my very first match but that never happens, especially with me. But nothing was easy and immediate for me.
"So I need patience and hard work now. The main task is to get into the Champions League for next season."
But team-mate Bacary Sagna reckons they will overhaul Aston Villa now the goals have started flowing again.
French defender Sagna, 26, said: "We can catch Villa if we play well and I hope the goals will keep coming.
"We have played quite good in the last few games but this is a big confidence boost because we have drawn too many."
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