Arsenal are now just days away from commencing their new Premier League campaign with the hosting of Leicester City next Friday and the Gunners will be hoping to enjoy better form than they experienced last year.

Arsene Wenger’s side are preparing for their first season without Champions League football in his tenure and there’s a wealth of expectation on his shoulders from the supporters, many of whom believed he should not have been handed a new contract.

All that is in the past though and Arsenal will be looking to kick-on towards potential glory, having not lifted the Premier League title since going the whole campaign undefeated in the 2003/04 season- and Wenger has identified the man he believes is key.

Alexis Sanchez’ future has been shrouded in speculation this summer, as he enters the final 12 months of his contract in North London, but Wenger has reiterated that his star-man will be going nowhere; although he hasn’t been able to provide assurances as to whether he’ll extend his contract.

Whatever the scenario, Arsenal are set to enjoy Alexis Sanchez’ brilliance for another campaign and Wenger believes the two-time Copa America winner can be the catalyst for a title winning campaign. Quoted by Sky Sports, the Frenchman said:

“He is a winner. When he goes on the football pitch, he wants to win. He is a guy who loves football. He has advantages and disadvantages on both sides going into a situation like that.”

“When you have made 75 points (last season), your target is to get 10 points more. And with 10 points more, you are in there (the title race).”

Arsenal will balance their Premier League campaign with involvement in the Europa League, a competition Manchester United won last season, and it’s likely the Gunners will go for broke in their European endeavours- albeit with the expectation of squad rotation.

Wenger hinted that changes will be made to the Europa League campaign but suggested a strong side will be selected regardless, with Arsenal benefitting from having an abundance of depth within their side.

“I will always play a team that has a good chance to win the next game. In the Europa League if we can afford sometimes to rest some players we will do it. But we have to adapt to the level of the competition and see first what kind of group we play in.”

Arsenal will discover their opponents in the Europa League in the group stage draw later this month, set to be held on Friday 25th August.