Szczesny Says Arsenal Don't Need to Spend to Win League: Is He Right?

With Arsenal preparing for a huge tie at the top of the Premier League against Southampton this weekend, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has provoked debate amongst Gunners fans by claiming the squad is fully prepared to compete for trophies without any further squad additions.

It is a bold statement from the Polish international, with many suggesting that Arsenal will need to spend again in January in order to maintain their excellent start to the season. Szczesny however, is unperturbed and—per Jack Pitt-Brooke in the Independent, says the squad is ready:

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"We believe we are good enough with the players we have and the work we are doing to win the Premier League," Szczesny said.

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It is a bold claim from Arsenal's No. 1, who has recently signed a long-term contract extension with the club. In many ways though, he is a shining example in support of his own quotes. Many believed a new goalkeeper was a priority for the Gunners in the summer, as the Pole was putting in a series of stuttering performances last campaign.

He has looked reborn though this term, and any talk of a goalkeeper being recruited is now far quieter than it once was.

The Gunners have a squad that has stepped up to a new level in a matter of just months. Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny have formed a rock solid partnership at the heart of Arsenal's defence—something many Gunners fans would have struggled to believe a year or two ago.

Aaron Ramsey however, is perhaps the most defining example of the Arsenal squad coming of age. There is no need to remind everyone of his superb stats so far in the 2013/14 season—but his performances have justified Szczesny's claims that the Gunners are ready to challenge.

His comments have another element of strength to them, too. Arsenal's biggest concern in terms of squad depth is without a doubt in attack. Whilst Olivier Giroud has been stunning so far this season, Nicklas Bendtner is the only real deputy at this moment in time, a huge worry given his form.

What Arsenal have, though, is bodies on the sideline ready to return to support Giroud. They are due to return at a number of stages throughout the season, but the imminent return of Theo Walcott will be a huge boost for Arsene Wenger. Whether it is out wide or in the central striker role, Walcott offers more depth to the Gunners and healthy competition for Giroud.

Add Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lukas Podolski to the list too, and all of a sudden Arsenal's squad depth isn't actually as bad as people are presuming it to be.

However, many Arsenal fans would still hope a star striker would be recruited in January. Whether that is someone of the ilk of Karim Benzema or Diego Costa remains to be seen, but that is the kind of name Gunners supporters would like to see at the Emirates.

It has been a stunning start to the season from Arsenal—of that there can be doubt. Szczesny's claims that the Gunners are well prepared to challenge without any further recruitment also has some good evidence in support of it—but going out and spending again in January would not see any complaints from anyone.