Arsenal's returning stars can clinch them the title

Over the last decade, Arsenal fans have had to watch Chelsea overtake them as the capital's most successful Premier League team, and endure the Manchester clubs claiming a succession of titles. Despite two FA Cup wins, silverware has been sparse and questions have been asked about Wenger, the club and its transfer policy.

Last season the Gunners title bid was hampered by an inconsistent start, including defeats to Stoke City and Swansea. However, the New Year came and Arsenal found their form, including a 10 game unbeaten streak between February and May. The Gunners also lifted their second FA Cup in two seasons, with a comprehensive win over Aston Villa. The great performances have continued into this season, and there is an ever-increasing sense that this could be the Gunners' year.

With one of the best defences in the league, and an in-form Mesut Ozil, Arsenal are keeping up with Manchester City, who emerged as title favourites with many bookmakers, following their strong start to the season and the collapse of Chelsea.

Arsenal just wouldn’t be Arsenal without an extensive injury list, and the international break could not have come quickly enough. While the team’s results haven’t suffered, despite the absence of many key players, the chance to recuperate will be a welcome relief for Arsene Wenger’s side.

The return of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey and young Hector Bellerin will be a real boost, especially with the latter having emerged as one of the clubs standout players this season.

Arsenal fans and players alike will welcome the return of Hector Bellerin, who has made the right-back spot his own. While Calum Chambers’s harrowing experiences on the right of the defence, and the injury fuelled decline of Mathieu Debuchy have helped Bellerin get game time, his mature performances and great form is what established him in the Arsenal defence.

Although Joel Campbell has performed admirably on the right of Wenger’s XI, the return of Aaron Ramsey will bolster the midfield, while Walcott’s return to the team will add more firepower. Walcott is currently the clubs 3^rd top scorer with 4, and only Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud have netted more than the pacey Englishman. 

Walcott has a better shot accuracy than both Alexis and Giroud, and superior pass accuracy to the latter. He had enjoyed a spell of good form before his calf problems in the shock defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.

With City still missing the injury-prone Sergio Aguero and Manchester United still not showing the killer instinct of a champion, the return of some of Arsenal’s injured stars could not come at a better time. The club will also hope to welcome back Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck before a tough run of fixtures in the New Year, which includes away trips to Anfield and Old Trafford, and potentially tricky games against Leicester and Chelsea.

It is a testament to the squad’s character, and Wenger’s leadership, that despite the amount of injuries, Arsenal have still been winning games, and taking the fight to City.

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