Not many teams could crumble as badly in a European final as Arsenal did, but did we expect anything else?

The Gunners bottled their opportunity to qualify for next season’s Champions League after an embarrassing 4-1 defeat to Chelsea in Baku. A result that has damaged the club’s future as well as their plans for this summer’s transfer window.

Qualification for Europe’s premier competition would have seen the Gunners transfer budget reportedly shoot up to £100 million, but now, it will remain a lowly £40 million, and with so many problems in the squad, it is going to be a long summer in north London.

But it’s not all doom and gloom, as in the darkness there was a small but faint shining light in the form of Joe Willock, who made a 13-minute cameo in the final stages of the game and immediately made Arsenal a better side.

His willingness to go forward and actually create chances saw the youngster nearly score himself, and it gave Arsenal fans hope that the future is going to be okay and that Unai Emery has to turn to youth for next season.

With so little money to work with this summer, promoting the likes of Willock, Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson to the first-team will not only save the team money on positions they would normally be spending funds on, but it will add excitement to the Gunners.

It is often said amongst fans and journalists who cover the club that Arsenal currently have a golden generation of talent coming through, and next season, Emery has to turn to them to help push the team forward and to instil hope into a team and fan base that are currently at their lowest.

Arsenal fans, should Emery turn to youth next season? Let us know!