When Arsenal kick-off their Premier League campaign on 14th August against Liverpool, they will do so knowing that they have a real chance of winning their first title since 2004. Their main competitors – traditionally Manchester United, City and Chelsea – are all in a state of transition with new managers. Meanwhile, champions Leicester City and Tottenham are both in the Champions League and so will struggle to compete domestically with the same manner of consistency that typified their respective seasons last year.

The Gunners’ start to the new season is certainly difficult – after facing Liverpool, they travel to Leicester and then Watford. This will be a test of the club’s mettle, and a good start would bring belief to a squad of players that have seemed to lack confidence in their own abilities in recent campaigns.

Manager Arsene Wenger has already acted in a swiftly manner when compared to last season. He struck early to bring Granit Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach. The Swiss international was the captain of his former club in the Bundesliga and will bring some character and discipline to a midfield that has looked threadbare since the days of Patrick Vieira. The return of Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere from injury will also bring some healthy competition to the north London club.

One area of concern, however, is the ability of the club’s attack. Olivier Giroud impressed for his country at Euro 2016 as they got to the final, only to be beaten by Portugal. However, the Frenchman has been relied upon for too long, and if he as an off-day then the club tends to suffer. Theo Walcott has had some excellent spells as the main striker in the past, but he appears to not fully have recovered from his serious knee injury.

With the new season getting closer, fans can visit Betway for a wide variety of football betting options. Their site offers a number of ways to bet on fixtures throughout the football calendar. In-play bets are available during each game, whilst there are outright bets such as who will win the Premier League title – Arsenal are currently third favourites at 6/1. There are even bets on individual players, including odds on Giroud scoring a hat-trick.

Another key man, Danny Welbeck, will miss the opening months of the new season after succumbing to a knee injury – a theme that has been recurrent in his short Gunners career since arriving from Manchester United. Possible replacements have been named in the media as Mauro Icardi or Gonzalo Higuain, though neither would arrive cheaply. Wenger’s first choice addition was Jamie Vardy, and the Frenchman was eager to activate his buyout clause, but the England international instead signed a new long-term contract.

Wenger has shown his commitment to the club by turning down the England managerial vacancy, which will be filled by Sam Allardyce of Sunderland. He has a year remaining on his deal at the Emirates and any extension may depend on him winning the Premier League or getting to the latter stages of the Champions League.