Arsenal FC: Why the 2012-13 Season Will Be All About the Gunners

After seven long years, things are finally looking up for Arsenal and its beleaguered fans.

The club's infamous trophy drought has brought frustration, stagnation and distrust to one of the world's biggest clubs, and Arsenal looked to be on the brink of utter disaster at more than one point in its recent history.

Losing does do that to a team, and Gunners fans can make a compelling argument that they have had more than their fair share recently. When Arsenal teams of the past few years did meet with some limited success, it was the type that weary minds do not appreciate.

Everything the club did, from its transfer business to its style of play to even seemingly the competence of the manager, was seriously questioned as things turned from bad to worse and the trophy cabinet gathered more dust.

Arguably the worst moments came at the beginning of this year. Already dispirited by losing two of its best players in Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, Arsenal started the season in horrific fashion, taking just one point from the first available nine, getting hammered 8-2 at Old Trafford and conceding four goals to now-relegated Blackburn in a pathetic 4-3 defeat.

In the midst of possibly the worst part of the Arsene Wenger era, though, the hitherto unquestioned manager finally had the sense to answer the cries of the fans and acquire the players who would form the basis for his side's remarkable comeback.

It is no surprise that, when Mikel Arteta, Per Mertesacker, Yossi Benayoun and Andre Santos finally got settled in their new environment, the team's results started to improve and the Gunners began their steady march up the table to their current third-place position.

Few could have anticipated it back in the dog days of summer, when everything appeared to be conspiring against Arsenal, that Wenger was building the foundation for a title-challenging side next season.

Educated from his previous transfer failings and the wholly unnecessary stress of the final hours of last summer's transfer window, the manager is already completing deals to get ahead of his opponents and build a strong team that can bond early in the summer and settle into an effective unit by the start of next season.

It has all started with Lukas Podolski, whom Wenger has amazingly brought in before the season's end to relieve the undue pressure on Robin van Persie's shoulders and rejuvenate an attack that has relied far too much on the Dutch genius.

Then, apparently emboldened by both his team's Premiership success and his fruitful transfer tactics, the manager is reportedly on the verge of completing a deal to sign highly-rated French midfielder Yann M'Vila.

What is particularly notable is that these extremely useful and talented signings were not obscure, bargain-basement targets; the former costs a substantial sum, while the latter would actually represent a record transfer fee for the infamously frugal Arsenal.

Further encouraging the optimists out there is the outstanding base on which these signings build.

Players like Wojciech Szczesny, Bacary Sagna, Laurent Koscienly, and, to a certain extent, Thomas Vermaelen and Per Mertesacker have been absolute rocks at the back this year for Arsenal.

If Steve Bould can prevent the occasional slip-ups that plague the Gunners, Arsene Wenger will have built a very deep defense that is densely packed with quality and allows room for the inevitable injuries that seem to occur annually.

A midfield with M'Vila in it would be even deeper and more formidable. Alex Song, creative genius and defensive stalwart, will support the metronomic and essential Mikel Arteta, the resurgent and hard-working Tomas Rosicky and a returning Jack Wilshere.

Taking into account the potential presences of Francis Coquelin, Aaron Ramsey, Emmanuel Frimpong and even Abou Diaby (I know, I know), Arsenal will have an extremely strong and deep rotation of midfielders who can play in all positions.

If it's even possible, competition for places will be even more fierce in attack, where youth battles against experience, and versatility abounds.

Lukas Podolski can play as a striker or a left-winger, and it remains to be seen whether he will support Robin van Persie as a second striker, a winger, or even be used off the bench.

Meanwhile, Theo Walcott, Gervinho, the outstanding Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and potentially Podolski will be left to slug it out for two wing positions based primarily on form. And who knows, Wenger might bring in yet another winger this summer to replace the outgoing Yossi Benayoun.

Of course, essential components in constructing this rosy outlook of Arsenal's future are the resigning of key players—specifically Robin van Persie.

To get the Dutchman to put pen to paper on a new deal, finishing third and therefore qualifying for the Champions League will be essential, as will signing top players as a statement of intent and, of course, shelling out the requisite cash.

Van Persie and his teammates can complete the first of these three requirements this weekend at West Brom by showing up and playing to their full potential. Meanwhile, top additions to the squad are already being added, and the club is showing that it is not afraid to splash some cash this summer.

I really don't sweat over van Persie too much—he is not the type of modern mercenary footballer who is motivated solely by immediate silverware and more money.

If and when the captain decides to stay and the club does its necessary transfer business this summer, it will have a fantastic team that will be capable of challenging for all domestic and European honors.

For the first time in years, the Gunners should be very much involved in the title race late into the season, and I would not put too much money against the Gunners even nicking the Premier League title if they get the positive breaks that they are bound to get after so many years of misfortune.

After years and years of waiting in distress, Arsenal's time in the spotlight might be fast-approaching.

Follow @charliemelman