The close season and the period before the season starts is always a time of year with the transfer window for clubs like Arsenal, who were short of challenging for the title last season, to potentially close the gap at the top and become real contenders.

Arsenal had a mixed campaign, in the first half of the season they were outside the top four for a long time, but after a 2-0 defeat away at Southampton they went on a phenomenal run and won eight games on the spin, and finished the season in the form of true title contenders.

But such was their average performances in the first half of the season, Arsenal still finished 12 points off champions Chelsea, and that is the gap that Wenger has to close this summer with the right signings.

There is no doubt a club the size as Arsenal - with their revenue, global fan base and style of football - should be challenging for the title every season, rather than being happy settling for the top four.

But importantly, Arsenal have made progressive steps over the last couple of seasons. Despite not improving much in the league or Champions League, they have however won back-to-back FA Cups.

That's no mean feat, and Wenger's squad will be better for the experience and will be hungrier for further silverware. Whilst they may be short in the league, Wenger will undoubtedly be pleased with the quality he has added to his squad over the last couple of years.

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However, that is not to say that they still need to do more work in the transfer market. And despite making some pretty impressive marquee signings in the shape of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, Arsenal still need to sign some players in important positions.

The spine of the team is the most important for any side title chasing aspirations, but while Arsenal's is decent it is still not strong enough in key areas.

They need to add a new world class goalkeeper as Ospina, despite boasting some good performances last season, is prone to making mistakes and simply isn't a title winning stopper. But positively for Arsenal Wenger has already addressed this area and has almost completed the signing of experienced title winning goalkeeper Petr Cech from Chelsea.

The arrival of Cech essentially ends Arsenal's seven year search for a world class goalkeeper - not since Lens Lehman have they been able to boast a player like that between the sticks -  and represents a huge step towards building that all important 'spine' in a title winning side.

Just in front of Cech will be Frenchman Laurent Koscielny and German centre-back Per Mertesacker. Koscielny has is everything you want in a centre-back. He's strong, quick, athletic and positive in his defending.

However, although Mertesacker is a good player and has been for Arsenal over the years, but he isn't good enough to partner Koscielny in the heart of defence, especially if Arsenal are going to make a serious challenge for the title.

Koscielny has been seen to make up for Mertesacker's short comings in terms of his real lack of pace and mobility, however that is not good enough and Arsenal need someone who compliments Koscielny rather than relies on him.

The defensive midfield position is another area Arsenal desperately need to strengthen, a position they haven't had addressed since the days of Patrick Vieira and even Emmanuel Petit before him.

Whilst Francis Coquelin performed admirably last season, he's still not quite at the level needed, especially in the big games, even with the more attack minded Santi Cazorla in front of him.

Finally, the final part of Arsenal's spine that needs work is up front. Arsene Wenger needs a top striker to make the difference, which us something Chelsea needed and addressed last summer, bringing in Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid.

Wenger has been lacking a 'marquee' signing in the striking department for some time now, and will need to make a Costa-like signing if he is to succeed in mounting a serious title challenge next term.

If Arsenal get the recruitment right then I can see no reason why Wenger's men can't win the league. But that is a big if.

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