Arsenal icon Arsene Wenger has claimed that Mikel Arteta's side can win the Premier League title - just weeks after Patrick Vieira tipped the Gunners to run Liverpool and Manchester City close in the race for the domestic crown.
The Londoners last won the title under Wenger back in the 2003/04 season - the same year that the Frenchman's iconic side made history by becoming the only side to ever go an entire season unbeaten in the Premier League era.
But unfortunately for the Gunners, who traded blows with Manchester United at the summit of the top-flight during the early 2000s, their powers have significantly waned since then.
For many years after their 'Invincibles' success, Arsenal were consigned to merely fighting for a top-four spot rather than competing for the English crown - a trend that has continued following Wenger's exit in 2018.
But the club's fortunes have improved significantly over the past 12 months under Arteta, who came agonisingly close to ending the Gunners' multi-year exile from the Champions League last term.
The Arsenal hierarchy have invested heavily for the second consecutive summer in a bid to reclaim their spot amongst England's elite - and new arrivals such as Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko have made an instant impact, with Arsenal currently top of the league following an impressive start to the new season.
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As the captain of the Arsenal 'Invincibles' side, Vieira knows a thing or two about competing for titles. And the Crystal Palace boss made it clear last month that he thought Arsenal were good enough to compete for the title again after his old side outclassed Palace 2-0 in their season opener.
Speaking after Palace's 1-1 draw with Liverpool, who are expected to challenge City for the domestic crown, Vieira insisted: "When you look at the number of points, of course playing against two teams who are fighting to win the Premier League, is always going to be challenging."
And if Vieira's glowing endorsement was not enough to convince the Arsenal fanbase that Arteta's side are well-stocked to achieve the improbable and challenge for major honours again, then perhaps Frenchman's former boss will.
Wenger has become the latest ex-Gunner to tip the club's current crop of stars to go one better than merely qualifying for Champions League this term, with the current FIFA chief adamant that the league is wide open.
Wenger said: “I would say they are moving in the right direction. I honestly think there is no weak position in the team... they are young, promising players and they have bought well this year.
“There is no completely dominating team this season and Arsenal has a chance with the potential that is there. We used to be in the top four and why not again? You cannot even rule out the fact that they can fight for the title and hopefully, they can do it.”
