After five years without a trophy, it is time for Arsene Wenger to stop trading on "jam tomorrow" promises and deliver the trophies this proud club requires. For those who believe I have some sort of downer on Wenger, it would be a delight to see his unshakeable principles on how football should be played receive tangible reward.
Arsenal were never more than on the margins of the title race last season, while Wenger's pretensions on the beautiful game were stripped bare by Barcelona in the Champions League.
The decision of Cesc Fabregas to ignore the advances of Barcelona and pledge his immediate future to Arsenal is a huge morale-booster, while Wenger has addressed obvious weaknesses in central defence by signing Lorient's Laurent Koscielny.
Wenger is actively seeking another defender, while the glaring faults of Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski will surely lead to a new goalkeeper arriving before the transfer window closes. If this does not happen, then Arsenal will not challenge for the title.
Wenger will have high hopes for new England recruit Jack Wilshere, while the hugely promising Kieran Gibbs will pressurise Gael Clichy - no bad thing on last season's evidence.
Arsenal have never been short of attacking options but the arrival of Marouane Chamakh from Bordeaux will give them an extra dimension alongside fit-again Robin van Persie, Andrey Arshavin and the improving Nicklas Bendtner.
As ever, hopes are high at The Emirates. I expect Arsenal to be exciting, vulnerable and a delight for the purist - but more likely to enjoy success in the cups rather than the Premier League.
Verdict: Threat in cup competitions if Wenger takes them seriously but face fight for top-four place.
Source: Phil McNulty, BBC on 12 Aug 10
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