So the Gunners have just notched up their 6th league win on the bounce. Championship form in any league. However not when we have seen two spells of dismal form at the start of the season and over the festive period when the bulk of Arsenal's 8 defeats came.
The good news is that Arsenal are back into 3rd spot and look well placed to qualify for yet another season in the Champions League. Tottenham seem to be struggling to put anything together and Chelsea have a caretaker manager and still the distraction of the Champions League to apply their ageing squad to.
So what chances for Arsenal next season? On their day it is clear they can match any side in the country. Personally I think it all comes down to a little bit of depth. Arenal's best 12 or 13 players could win the title, but it only takes 2 or 3 injuries and the bench starts to look pretty threadbare.
In goal, Szczesny is able and would play in almost any Premiership team (perhaps Joe Hart would retain is place at Man City). Reasonable back up's in the form of Almunia and Fabianski mean a 'keeper is not a priority.
At Centre-back, Vermaelen and Mertesacker are two commanding defenders. Djourou and Koscielny are decent replacements, and due to injruies at least one has featured in most games this season. Squillaci is also in the squad, and ideally he would be moved on and someone closer to the ability of Vermaelen and Mertesacker brought in.
At full back, Sagna and Santos would start when fit. There is no doubting Sanga's ability, but Santos seems a bit too 'brazillian' for this league. Driving runs forward mean he is an exciting player - but would a title winning side have him? Perhaps with experience he will be the man there. Gibbs and Jenkinson provide cover but really Arsenal are well short of depth and all too often we have seen makeshift full backs play when Sanga or Santos have been injured. Def a couple of players required here to build the squad.
In Centre-mid - Arensal have a great level of depth; Arteta, Song, Ramsay, Rosicky, Benayoun have all featured this season. Jack Wilshere is also to return. Emanuelle Frimpong, now on-loan at Wolves, will surely come back next season. He looked a real find at the start of the season, but a silly red card seemed to rob him of his confidence (and place in the team) and he was farmed out. It is unlikely much surgery is required here. Perhaps Benayoun will be offloaded and a couple of youngsters brought in.
Out wide, once again, things look exciting. A rejuvinated Theo Walcott has lit games up this season and looked like a world class winger. He's had quiet spells, but perhaps he is learning how to become a 'senior player' and we will see a more consistant Theo from now on.
On the left, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looks every inch an Arsene Wenger protege. An athletic, pacy winger who is likely to chip in with goals. Alex will only turn 19 in August, and most pundits are already tipping him to make the flight to the Euro's with England this summer as a raw 18 year old. Wenger stll uses 'The Ox' sparingly, but surely he will feature in most games next season.
Other options include Gervinho (who has played plenty of games this season). I'm not convinced about this fellow. He is pondrous on the ball, rarely looks a goal threat and his hair...? His hair is just ridiculous. Probably it is unlikely he will move on, and Wenger has given him plenty of game time, but ideally we need better players than this to move forward.
Ju-Young Park is also in the squad. We've not seen a lot of him, but he turns 27 this year so we can rule him out of the 'promising youngster' category. Expect him to move on in the summer.
In terms of Strikers, the burden this season has fallen mainly on the shoulders of a certain Robin Van Persie. Captain Van-Tastic has chipped in with just the 33 goals this season and Arsenal must retain his services. It is therefore crucial that we can maintain form till the end of the season and build a bit of belief that next season can be wholly competitive.
Chamackh & Arshavin have also featured, but arguably these guys have had their time at Arsenal. Arshavin has already been loaned out and Chamackh will surely move on in the summer. Bedtnar has also been on loan at Sunderland (with limtied success) and will surely be moved on. Carlos Vela - I was surprised he was loaned out, but perhaps he will not develop in to the talent we hoped, he has just turned 23.
Next season, Arsenal have stated their ambitions with the signing of German International striker, Luckas Podolski. 43 International goals in 95 caps by the age of 26 speaks for itself and it seems probable that Podolski will chip in with his fair share of goals to releive RVP of the burden of sole goal scorer. Whether he plays with RVP, or mainly in place of him, time will tell. However he is still an able striker and certainly improves the squad.
Up top, realistically we still need one other winger and one other striker. Arsene will have some funds to play with assuming Chamackh, Arshavin, Park, Bedntar, Vela etc move on. Probably a few youngsters will be brought in for depth also.
Perhaps it is the owners who will have the biggest say. Are they happy with yet another season turning a profit, but with no trophies? It may be a good business model, but it wont last forever without some silverware. Will the profits be reinvested to build a big squad capable of challenging for domestic and european silverware? Lets hope so.
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