Are Arsenal destined to win the Premier League in 2013-14?

Limited budget, restraint on spending big during the summer and departures of Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, Alex Song, Gael Clichy and Robin van Persie, could be considered as major reasons for the nine-year trophy drought.

Even though the core of the team is strong, fingers remain crossed hoping that Arsene Wenger will dive into the market to boost his options in attack. However, Arsenal faithful and pundits remain skeptical when it comes to Gunners on spending.

This time around, the story is a bit different as Ivan Gazidis and Wenger mean business.

Following are the best reasons to believe that Arsenal can go from the whipping boys of the top four to champions of the EPL in 2013/14.

Stability in Defense

It is a good feeling to be able to talk about Arsenal’s defense as a strength. After many seasons of calamity across the back four, Arsenal now boast real stability and solidity defensively.

Per Mertesacker has become a key figure in the back four, despite any of Arsenal’s fans willing to acknowledge it. Thomas Vermaelen’s demotion to the bench was the key factor in improving Arsenal’s fortune as Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny formed a solid central defensive partnership.

Vermaelen has even been linked with a move away from the club this summer, however, he maintains that he wants to stay and fight for his place at the North London club.

Laurent Koscielny’s performances improved considerably late in the season. There have been noises about a potential move to Barcelona or Bayern Munich. However, Koscielny’s agent was quick to bury these links.

At the full-back position, Bacary Sagna’s future is uncertain as he has been linked with a move back to France, but, lack of evidence for the same kills the talk. Kieran Gibbs has blossomed into one of the finest left-backs in the country. Better still, Arsenal have options in defence — real, credible options. Nacho Monreal is an able deputy for Gibbs, while Carl Jenkinson or youngster Hector Bellerin could succeed Sagna if the French international heads for the exit door.

Wenger and assistant Steve Bould have some riches to work with at the back. This unit is enough to make Arsenal tough to beat, and their continuity and consistency will prove vital in the title race.

Very Good Midfield

To put it in a nutshell, Arsenal midfield is a mix of doggedness, aggression, panache, flair and creativity.

Cazorla became the team’s creative lynchpin, while Abou Diaby and Arteta provided the pivot supporting defence and attack. Diaby had his trademark injury layoffs, but players like Aaron Ramsey, Tomas Rosicky and Francis Coquelin put in decent shifts to fulfill the gap left by the big Frenchman. Jack Wilshere made his comeback from a lengthy injury and slotted well into his midfield role.

Arsene Wenger is Arsene Wenger

No manager could have kept Arsenal in the top-four mix in the last two seasons other than Arsene Wenger. The seasoned French tactician is simply relentless. Considering the fact that many of Arsenal’s top players were sold in consecutive transfer windows, finishing in the top four makes the feat ever more appealing.

Even though Spurs spent big to acquire the likes of Moussa Dembele, Jan Vertonghen and Hugo Lloris, all quality internationals, Arsenal still managed to beat them with, arguably, their weakest squad in years. It was all because of the driving force that Arsene Wenger is.

His famed stubborn streak can hurt Arsenal, but it also keeps them at the top end of the table. Le Professeur simply refuses to let go.

Never Back Down Spirit

Undoubtedly, Arsenal’s biggest strength is their fans, who have never left their side, even when the going got tough. Determination, commitment and tenacity to do the impossible is what defines being a Gunner.

Some of the prime examples of Arsenal’s ‘never back down’ spirit are, beating Bayern Munich 2-0 at Allianz Arena (the only team to do so in 2012-13), winning from 4-0 down at Reading, grabbing on to the 4th place by taking 26 points out of a possible 30, and despite the limited budget, managing to qualify for Champions League for the past 16 years.

What they need

The formula for winning the Premier League has changed in recent seasons. At one time, possessing sheer power in midfield was seen as the key. Arsenal exemplified this with Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires. United fielded Roy Keane and Paul Scholes. Chelsea trampled foes with the likes of Claude Makelele and Michael Essien, joining Frank Lampard in the centre of the park.

Today, things are different and the club with the most firepower up front, usually wins the league. United captured this season’s crown despite their midfield being the weakest it has been in decades. What Red Devils did have was the strike force of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez. All three did what they had to at different stages of the season.

Manchester City certainly were not short of midfield talent the season before. However, what won the Citizens the 2011/12 crown was the striking trio of Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko.

Similarly, Arsenal will need to buff up at the top of the field if they are to have any chance of claiming the Premier League crown next season.

Arsenal need more quality and depth in attack. With the possibility of the arrival of Gonzalo Higuain and Wayne Rooney, Arsenal would certainly possess the prolific scoring threat which they lacked so often last season. It would also heal the wounds and despair of Robin Van Persie’s departure.

Higuain’s 107 goals speak for him (22 or more goals per season). He does possess van Persie’s preternatural game intelligence, or galloping burst of Luis Suarez or Carlos Tevez, but in front of the goal, he is deadly. Add to that the brilliant movement, anticipation and an ability to find the net from any angle or range with either foot and Arsenal will have an out-and-out striker in their squad.

Another priority for Arsenal is a defensive midfielder. A player with strength, great tackling ability, some form of pace, good passing and movement, who might also help to add some height and muscle to the team is required more now, than ever. In the ‘Invincibles’ squad, Vieira was the stand out player and played a very central role, making sure that not only the defense was guarded but attacks were initiated regularly.

In the early weeks of summer, Gunners have been linked with the likes of Victor Wanyama and Marouane Fellaini, who could fill the void left by Alex Song. The Everton man is a proven Premier League performer at an ideal age and brings with him a plethora of skills that would see him plug vital gaps in Arsenal’s armour.

Fellaini is often misunderstood because of his physicality, and underestimated because of his sluggish style. But the Belgian is a highly intelligent box-to-box midfielder, who creates space effortlessly and has excellent awareness in both penalty areas. Arsenal have thrived with the addition of the disciplined Mikel Arteta in the middle, and the accompaniment of Fellaini would give the Gunners more strength in the engine room.

Arsenal have already begun the first team clean-up process with the departures of Arshavin, Denilson and Squillaci. Nicklas Bendtner is all set to bid farewell to the Gunners as well, which means getting an awful lot of wages out of their bills, possibly, creating space for the wages of the incoming big boys.

Recapturing the Premier League crown would be a great way to answer the critics. But the million dollar question is, “Will Arsene Wenger break the bank?”