Arsenal might just be this season’s team to watch. For the first time in a while, the Gunners will not need reminding of how long it was since they won a trophy. 

In fact, their fans can turn around and make a point to their Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United-supporting friends — yes, what a difference a year makes. 

Of course, it would be foolish to stop there. Arsenal now have to build on last season’s performance — they improved in the league but still can’t seem to shake off fourth place. 

From some angles, it looks like a curse. And while the FA Cup is still a much sought-after prize, it’s not the only one and certainly not the biggest. 

Still, a recovery, in any case, has to start somewhere. 

Investing in new players is a good sign of progress and Arsenal have been unusually quick in doing so. 

Alexis Sanchez is without doubt their most noteworthy acquisition. The forward signed on the back of an impressive World Cup with Chile. 

Sanchez also managed 19 goals in La Liga with Barcelona and, perhaps because of that, could be playing as a striker. Those are the early indications anyway, which could see that particular conundrum up front sorted already. 

Olivier Giroud contributed well in the previous campaign but has not necessarily looked like the first-choice striker of a top European side. 

After all, Arsene Wenger did famously start Yaya Sanogo in last year’s big Champions League game to Bayern Munich, perhaps feeling the club could be better stocked in the position. 

Wenger would hope players like Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Giroud can bring the goals otherwise it remains a weakness. 

Sanogo managed to grab four goals in Saturday’s 5-1 victory over Benfica, after failing to find the net once in 14 Premier League games last season. But doing it in a friendly is one thing — can he replicate that clinical finishing over the next 38 games? 

There is still the option of dipping into the market and finding a classic goalscorer. In that sense, it’s not too different to the centre of defence. 

Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny have struck up a magnificent partnership but what after that? Thomas Vermaelen is injury-prone and out of form and could leave anyway with Manchester United and Barcelona interested in the Gunners captain. 

Calum Chambers, signed from Southampton, has been tipped to replace him — with other new boy Mathieu Debuchy set to start at right back. The goalkeeper David Ospina, meanwhile, was brought in from French outfit Nice.

Arsenal’s real strength lies in the attacking midfield and wide positions. Aaron Ramsey finally realised his potential in the spectacular first half of last season, while Mesut Ozil, for all the criticism, is still the source of a lot of good for the north Londoners. 

Walcott, Santi Cazorla, Lukas Podolski, Joel Campbell and Tomas Rosicky all have big roles to play, too. 

They may well sign a holding midfielder with Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin linked with a move and Wenger refusing to rule out the possibility of making a bid for Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira.

However, Wenger has hinted, rather interestingly, of a possible role there for Jack Wilshere. 

The 22-year-old has made the headlines this summer after being caught smoking for the second time but did apologise and is apparently in the best condition heading into the start of the Premier League season. 

And supporters will hope this is a year where many, like Wilshere, come of age. 

It might not be what the fans are desperately hoping for but a third-place finish is realistic — and it certainly counts as progress.