Arsenal players have been talking up the club's chances next season and their fans are also believing that the long awaited dream has turned into something which is now realistically within their grasp again.
Of course this is a widely debatable point. Expectations are high at the Emirates. Their fans will hope that they will have seen the back of those games, where Arsenal succumbed in pathetic style to lower league opposition in domestic cup games and after the relative success of last year, anticipation is buoyant.
Pundits will be expecting Manchester Utd to bounce back with Louis Van Gaal now at their helm but the new Dutch manager will still require a period of bedding. Arsene Wenger on the other hand is beginning his 18th season in charge and he has three more years to come. His legacy is there for all to see and he will be hoping that his current crop of players will bring a new dynamic to this legacy with a new era full of success.
Arsene has raided his war chest and Arsenal are clearly serious about mounting a real challenge for the title this season. The acquisition of Alexis Sanchez, the hope that Ozil will deliver a more productive season along with Theo Walcott coming back into the team, gives him real quality at his disposal. The squad is looking like one of the strongest in the Premiership and as all Champions will tell you, they need that little bit of luck avoiding significant injuries to their star players to have a real chance to dent the Chelsea/Manchester City grip which still seems to be in place.
Chelsea, with Costa and ex-Arsenal legend Fabregas will be a serious threat for the title and City will also be there or thereabouts come the first week of May next year. My good friend and BBC football presenter, Leon Mann predicts the Gunners to finish 2nd and I think this is a good shout.
Gooners around the world will live in hope that Arsenal gets the rub of the green this season, which they will certainly need if they are going to back their potential with a realistic stint at the Premiership. The games against the big boys will be telling, as the hidings Arsenal received last season at the hands of Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Everton need to be addressed AND reversed if this is going to be more than a pipedream for the North London club. Palace will offer a stiff test this at weekend's opening fixture but Arsenal should eventually come through. Their fans will be expectant.
Article author Fevzi Hussein can be followed on Twitter @fevzihussein
Source: DSG
