AFTER finishing third in the Premier League and retaining the FA Cup last season, Arsenal will be hoping to go a step further this year by being crowned champions of England for the first time in over a decade.

History suggests that Arsene Wenger will lead his side to the league title this season as the last time the Gunners won back-to-back FA Cup trophies in 2002 & 2003 they followed it up by topping the table in 2004, where they went the whole season unbeaten.

For the current crop to go unbeaten this year is a tough ask given the quality and unpredictability of the league. However, there is a chance with the right additions to the squad that the Gunners could push the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City close for the title.

The arrival of goalkeeper Petr Cech can be seen as nothing but a brilliant purchase by Wenger as for the first time since the days of David Seaman and Jens Lehmann, he now has someone who can be relied upon between the sticks.

It’s often said league winning teams need a world-class keeper and the Gunners certainly have that now and many of the club’s supporters will be hoping the former Blues stopper can impart his title-winning experiences to his new teammates.

Defensive positions are well stocked as there is healthy competition for places across the backline as Hector Bellerin, fresh off signing a new long-term deal with the club, will be hoping to build on his superb second half of last season and will surely face a battle from the fit again Mathieu Debuchy.

An early season injury crisis last year forced Nacho Monreal to play at centre-back and that proved a turning point in his career as he certainly benefited from that stint in the middle and is now the first-choice left-back ahead of Kieran Gibbs.

Midfield is where Wenger is spoilt for choice and the emergence of Francis Coquelin in the holding role, just in front of the back four, appears to have solved a long-time problem area for the north London side and also saved the French manager some money in the transfer market.

If the title is to end up at Ashburton Grove come May then the arrival of a centre-forward that offers something different to Olivier Giroud is a must.

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has been heavily linked with a move away from the Spanish capital and that would certainly be a huge statement of intent if he was to join.

A change of attitude and willingness to sacrifice possession in the big games brought about some positive results against both Manchester clubs and Chelsea in the second half of last season and that should give the squad confidence ahead of the new campaign.

On paper the Gunners have a quality squad and are well placed to make a genuine title challenge.

However, unless a couple of top quality additions arrive before the transfer window closes on September 1, it’s likely to be another third placed finish for the club.