Arsenal '2 or 3' Players from 2018-19 PL Title Challenge, Says Arsene Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes the team need "two or three" more signings to challenge for the Premier League title next season. 

Wenger is departing the Gunners after 22 years in charge at the end of the term, and while he will leave behind a squad that contains some talented footballers, the Gunners sit 34 points adrift of leaders Manchester City with two games to play.

Despite that deficit and the fact his team will finish this term in sixth spot, Wenger believes some tinkering, not a total overhaul, of the squad is required.

"I must say the squad doesn't need much, because there's a huge potential in there," he said ahead of Wednesday's meeting with Leicester City in the Premier League, per Adam Crafton of the Daily Mail. "There's a good spirit, a good basis. It needs two or three additions and this team will compete for the championship next year."

Wenger also said that he feels as though the team would benefit from announcing his successor as soon as possible. "People want hope and they need to prepare for the next season," he said of the search for a new coach.

As noted by the Match of the Day Twitter account, it's been a long time since the Gunners were at the top of the tree in English football:

During the early stages of Wenger's tenure the team had everything needed to compete at the highest level.

Not only did they have the class and panache that has become associated with Wenger's sides, they also boasted steely determination and physicality that's frequently been crucial to succeeding in the English game.

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At the moment this Arsenal team doesn't have that edge, especially away from home; they've yet to pick up a Premier League point in 2018 on the road and have just three league away wins this season. 

At the back they are flaky, in midfield they lack bite and in the final third, while players like Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Mesut Ozil are wonderful when they turn it on, they lack consistency.

If the Gunners are going to mould a title-winning side, there are some building blocks to focus on. January signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is one, per the Premier League Twitter account:

The other issue for Arsenal is the progress being made by the five teams above them. Most notably Manchester City, who have won the title at a canter this season and can still finish with 100 points if they win their remaining two games.

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In addition, Manchester United are expected to spend big in the summer window, while Liverpool, who have made it to the UEFA Champions League final, are going in an exciting direction under their manager Jurgen Klopp. London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are also comfortably ahead of the Gunners at this juncture.

Factor in that Wenger will leave a huge void at the club this summer when he does move on, it feels as though more than a couple of new faces will be needed to make the Gunners a regular fixture at the summit again.