Arsene Wenger's 'Best' Arsenal Squad in 18-Year Reign Face Defining Period

Arsenal might still be unbeaten in the 2014-15 Premier League season, but that hasn't stopped the same old questions being aimed the way of their manager Arsene Wenger, who celebrates 18 years in charge of the club on Wednesday. The Gunners haven't been at their best, winning just two from their opening six games and drawing the other four, and losing their opening UEFA Champions League group game.

Team tactics, transfer policy and suspicions over whether the current squad of players have what it takes to win major trophies consistently all remain points of contention for critics of the club, points which haven't been answered in the early weeks of the new season.

For Wenger, he needs to take two positive results from the next two matches to avoid these murmurings becoming far louder over the international break, where Arsenal will have to wait two weeks to get any bad performances out of their collective system. The Gunners face Galatasaray in the Champions League before visiting table-topping Chelsea on the domestic front.

Strongest Squad?

Gunners legend Bob Wilson spoke on talkSPORT's Hawksbee and Jacobs show to label the current Arsenal group, "very close to having the best overall squad [of Wenger's reign]."

It seems to be somewhat against the current trend of thought, which sees the Gunners's squad as largely lacking (in seniority) in depth in certain key areas.

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Just a reminder, Arsenal have six defenders to cover four positions across a 50-game season... SIX pic.twitter.com/Nej2kfntgm

— Massimo Marioni (@MassMarioni) September 1, 2014"

Outside of the defence, there are also the questions of whether the centre of midfield and striker areas of the pitch were strengthened enough by Wenger during the summer.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Back to Wilson, who also said that the squad was one yet to reach its peak: "There’s a wonderful basis of some really talented British players. That is going to come to fruition in the next two or three years, as long as we can keep them together."

Aside from the worry for Gunners fans over having been hearing that the squad is nearing its peak for the past decade or so, it also begs questions over why the squad isn't quite there after spending almost £150 million over the past two summer transfer windows.

Chasing Leaders

Already trailing Premier League leaders Chelsea by six points, the Gunners can simply not afford to lose that fixture against their London rivals Sunday. A nine-point gap at this early stage might not be insurmountable, but it would require a slump from the league leaders, which looks extremely unlikely given the mental strength and squad depth the Blues have under Jose Mourinho.

Getty Images/Getty Images

Failure to win would also leave Arsenal with just two wins from seven in the Premier League, something they repeated in 2011-12, when they ended the season 19 points behind eventual winners Manchester City.

City and Chelsea have depth. City and Chelsea have title wins to their names of late.

Arsenal don't necessarily have either asset, plus a long list of current injury problems that again throw the squad strength into sharp light.

What Is Success this Season?

Arsenal won the FA Cup last season, their first silverware since 2005. It has to, though, be the springboard for the club to launch another period of sustained success—not just a fleeting opportunity to add another single date to the ring bordering the inside of the Emirates Stadium.

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Vincent Kompany has predicted a three-way title fight this year between Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal. pic.twitter.com/wg6AiQG3Gm

— Football__Tweet (@Football__Tweet) September 22, 2014"

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“@_Jawme: @StanCollymore what do you think of Arsenal's title challenge ? #freestyle” >GREAT UNTIL MARCH AGAIN.

— Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) September 21, 2014"

Between 2002 and 2005, Arsenal won two league titles (and finished runners-up twice), two FA Cups and two Community Shields. The latter might not be hugely important in times of sustained winning—as opposed to the all-encompassing celebrations of last year—but they do still count, very much so.

A Champions League final appearance in 2006 would not likely have happened if the squad hadn't been built on achievement over the previous few campaigns.

Top-four finishes are looking ever more difficult and competitive in the Premier League, with up to six clubs fighting for those berths now. Competitive achievement does not equal success, though, and Arsenal have been floating in the same place for too long.

Arsenal need more, Wenger needs more and these two upcoming fixtures have to be the starting point, simply because if they fall down again, they will be unlikely to have enough to chase on either front over the course of the rest of the season.

Follow @karlmatchett