by Lewis Ambrose

Over the past 11 years since Arsenal have last won the league the club has come under plenty of criticism.

Some fans have excused the lack of a league title since the move to Emirates Stadium. Arsenal went through a long period of selling their best players without being able to replace them with players of the same calibre while everyone else at the top of the Premier League was capable of spending huge amounts.

Arsenal have now added Petr Čech to the signings of Mesut Özil and Alexis Sánchez. Two consecutive FA Cup victories leave Arsenal in a strong and confident position to mount a real challenge for the Premier League title in 2015/16.

“We have reduced the gap and I believe we are ready to go further,” said Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger.

“We now have the stability that gives us strength. Before I was more exposed to ‘Who will go?’ and now the question I get more is ‘Who will come?’”

Arsenal lost the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie just a few years ago but the manager can now finally focus on adding to what he has with top talent rather than merely plugging the holes left by departures.

“The transfer market is not over. We can still buy but I don’t think we will sell. Our potential on the market has changed,” the manager explained.

But can Arsenal win the league this season?

“It’s our target and we have a chance in a very competitive league,” Wenger said.

“We finished third and won the FA Cup so that shows we’re not far away. We have a good cohesive group with the ability to do better.

“Will we win the title this season? You cannot guarantee that in the Premier League. I just say we want to. I promise we will fight to win.”

There really are no guarantees, and that’s why shouts like ‘Anything but the league is not good enough!’ are ridiculous. Arsenal are in a much stronger position but still in a league with teams who have considerable spending power to add to their already embarrassing riches of talent.

Over the past year Manchester United alone have spent over £200M on new players – nobody can guarantee a league title when there are three clubs capable of doing that in the same league.

Arsenal can compete this season, and that is all we can ask for. Fine margins are likely to decide the destination of the Premier League title but, as Wenger has said, Arsenal have every chance.