Barclays Premier League preview- Arsenal

Having secured Champions League football for the 16th season in a row, Arsenal enter the new season with practically the same squad, but have been linked heavily with Luis Suarez over the summer months. It would seem that Arsene Wenger has a lot of money to spend, but has yet to do so.
It is over 3000 days since the North London club won a trophy, a fact which opposition fans take delight in. Could this be the year that all changes?

Last Season

Having sold Robin Van Persie and Alex Song, Wenger brought in Santi Cazorla, Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski to help provide goals. They started off well, beating Liverpool in Anfield, thumping Southampton 6-1 and taking a draw from the Etihad Stadium in their first 6 games. Four straight  league wins in December made up somewhat for an embarrasing League Cup exit to 4th-tier Bradford City. The Gunners put on a superb run of form, losing only once in their last 16 league games, but needed to better Tottenham's result on the last day, to qualify for Europe's premier competition once again. Laurent Koscielny's header was enough to do so. Arsenal were also one of  only two teams able to beat Bayern Munich in the 2012-2013 season, but they still exited the Champions League to the Germans, who would go on to win the tournament.

Top scorer : Theo Walcott (21 goals)
Fan's Player of the Season : Santi Cazorla
League Position: 4th
League Cup: Quarter- Finals
FA Cup: 5th Round
Champions League: Last 16

The Gaffer : Arsene Wenger

The Frenchman will take control of Arsenal for the 18th season in a row, after coming under pressure from fans last season. In his time at Arsenal, he has delivered 3 Premier League titles, 4 FA Cup's, and 4 Community Shield's. But after so long without a trophy, most clubc would have sacked their manager. The Arsenal board have stuck by him though, as he has brought Champions League football to North London for 16 consecutive seasons. Will that be enough to keep his job this season?

Key Player: Mikel Arteta

The midfielder was an internal cog in Arsenal's machine last season, scoring 6 goals, and completing more passes than any other Premier League player (stats courtesy of Opta). The Spainard is a leader on and off the field, and if he can repeat his strong performances from last season then Arsenal could push for the silverware that has deserted them so long.

One To Watch : Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain

After impressing in his first season, the Ox was surprisingly flat in last year's campaign. Pundits are expecting great things from the 20-year old. Over the summer he was called up to the England squad, and emulated his father Mark, by playing against Brazil in the Maracana. He scored against the Samba stars in England's 2-2 draw, which will have done his confidence the world of good.

Transfers In

Yaya Sanogo (Free transfer from Auxerre)

Transfers Out

Denilson, Andrei Arshavin, Sebastian Squillaci, (frees),
Gervinho (8 million to Roma),
Andre Santos (undisclosed fee to Flamengo),
Marouanne Chamakh (undisclosed, to Crystal Palace)
Vito Mannone (undisclosed to Sunderland)

First Six Fixtures: Aston Villa (H), Fulham (A), Spurs ( H), Sunderland (A), Stoke (H), Swansea (A)

Prediction: The squad from last season should be good enough to bag European Football again, but it all depends on one man. If Gareth Bale stays with Tottenham, then the Gunners could be in trouble 5th.