Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain believes Arsenal have a chance at the title this season.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain insists Arsenal will be title contenders this season, saying that team spirit will set them apart from their rivals.

Finishing third and then fourth in the two seasons since signing Chamberlain, the Gunners now face nine years without a trophy.

But Chamberlain says that winning the title has been the goal for the Gunners ever since he walked through the door.

He told the Daily Telegraph: "We've been contenders ever since I came to Arsenal. Or at least that's the feeling in the squad. We really think we can take the title.

"Obviously it hasn't happened in recent seasons. But in the form we showed at the end of last season, and - when I was watching from the sidelines - in the spirit we've shown at the start of this, in the derby, everyone was fighting for each other.

"That team spirit, you can't buy it. That, along with our manager and the signings, I'm full of optimism that this season can be a good one.

"We think we can win the title. Just like we believe we can win every competition we're in. If you don't believe that, then you don't deserve to be at Arsenal."

As Arsenal celebrated finishing fourth on the last day of last season, clinching the final Champions League spot over cross-town rivals Tottenham by just one point, it was clear there was much work to be done in preparation for the current season.

Arsenal fans will hope that the recent purchase of Mesut Ozil and the return of some of the side's injured stars, including Oxlade-Chamberlain, will help close the gap between Arsenal and Chelsea, and the two wealthy Manchester teams, and turn the Gunners back into genuine title contenders.