Can Arsenal push on to make a genuine title challenge?

Last season was a strange one for Arsenal fans. On the one hand, they secured Champions League qualification yet again and lifted their first trophy in 9 long years. An unqualified success, surely? Well, not exactly, given that the Gunners actually topped the Premier League for long spells during the campaign and eventually fell away to fourth place. It left something of a ‘could do better’ feel to the season.

There is no doubt that Arsenal fans believe a club of their size and stature should be challenging for the big prize of the Premier League title. Can Arsene Wenger’s side move up to the next level? Well, the Betsson odds and bookies elsewhere are unlikely to make them title favourites at this stage. However, if certain changes are made at the Emirates, then a Liverpool-like improvement could still happen. For a start, Wenger will need to tighten up his side tactically when it comes to the big games against title contenders. Arsenal suffered some truly horrible results against Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea last season. These games effectively knocked them out of the running for the title, despite having been an almost permanent fixture in the top two until March.

And of course, there is also the question of squad strength. Some would argue that with the squad that they had, Arsenal perhaps over-performed last season. There is certainly no arguing that Wenger’s side could do with some strengthening in key areas. Over the course of a gruelling season, at the moment Arsenal just don’t have the strength in depth to compete with the likes of City and Chelsea. When injury struck key players such as Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey last season, Arsenal struggled.

So, if there is money available and Wenger is keen to buy, what should he be looking for? French defender Laurent Koscielny recently candidly said that the Gunners require at least four new signings before next season. Top of the list should be a striker. It is incredible that Wenger got through an entire season with essentially a single striker to call on in the form of Olivier Giroud. Make no mistake, Giroud performed excellently and was the pivot around which Arsenal’s exciting midfield play was allowed to thrive. However, not only does he need support, but Arsenal also need another option. That is why talk of a ‘Giroud-type’ striker such as Bayern Munich’s Mario Mandzukic may be wide of the mark. A better purchase would be Loic Remy, who has impressed enormously in the Premier League with both QPR and Newcastle United. His sheer goals return is attractive enough, but his pace and timing could also benefit from Giroud’s hold-up play.

Another big part of Arsenal’s success last season was an excellent centre-back partnership between Koscielny and Per Mertesacker, which was a crucial backbone for the Gunners. However, beyond these two, Wenger can rely only on Thomas Vermaelen at the heart of defence, whose injury record is sadly poor. Another centre-back would therefore also be a good investment for Arsenal. Also in defence, right-back Bacary Sagna has completed his transfer to Manchester City. Although Carl Jenkinson has undoubtedly improved in leaps and bounds, it would be a big gamble to entrust him with a regular starting slot. A replacement for Sagna should also be high up on Wenger’s shopping list.

Apart from anything else, Arsenal can be sure that their rivals will all strengthen this summer, meaning that next season will likely be even more competitive than the last. Failure to also upgrade could well see Arsenal slip back rather than make the continued progress which their supporters crave.