Arsenal’s superb victory over Liverpool on Saturday lifted them up to second place in the Premier League table, and having opened up a nine-point gap over their last opponents in the race for the top four, they look like certainties to qualify for the Champions League once again.

Nothing new there, then.

Over the last decade this has been the norm for the Gunners and while fans have enjoyed the consistency of top four finishes, there has been little else to celebrate as their side have rarely threatened a realistic challenge for Premier League or Champions League glory, lifting just a solitary trophy thanks to their FA Cup victory last year.

But recent weeks suggest things could be about to get a lot more serious at the Emirates and judging by their emphatic display against Liverpool, it looks like Arsenal are finally emerging as genuine title contenders.

There have been plenty of calls for Arsenal to get rid of Arsene Wenger over the last few seasons, and after an awful display at home to Monaco in the Champions League, the pressure piled back onto the Frenchman as fans vented their frustration.

But aside from that disappointing European night, Arsenal have been on a tremendous run of form that has created a real positive atmosphere around the club. Since defeat at White Hart Lane back in February, they have won six consecutive games in the league, as well as reaching another FA Cup semi-final thanks to an impressive victory at Old Trafford. Nine wins from their last 10 Premier League games mean they are the form side in the division, culminating in a manager of the month award for Wenger. And there is now even talk that they could possibly catch Chelsea at the top of the table.

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While this looks extremely unlikely, that fact it is even being mentioned goes to show just much Arsenal have improved recently and they can take plenty of positives going into next season where they can then really challenge for the title.

While Arsenal’s ability to beat the lesser sides in the division has never really been questioned, it was their inability to pick up points against the bigger clubs that often proved to be their downfall. But having left both Manchester sides with victories since the turn of the year, and then hammering Liverpool at the weekend, they seem to have turned a corner.

With the emergence of Francis Coquelin epitomising their new found resolve, they look a far more solid outfit defensively that has improved the balance of the side. Coquelin’s inclusion in the side has allowed their attacking quality to thrive in recent months, and there’s no doubt they have one of the best array of options available going forward in the division.

Alexis Sanchez has been superb since his arrival, and with the likes of Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla, Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott all guaranteeing goals, Wenger is hardly short of options going forward. The ability of all these players to rotate and play anywhere across the midfield or attack gives the manager real options when selecting his team and allows his side to continue playing the attractive style of passing football that they have become famous for.

Add to this their in form striker Olivier Giroud and they really have all the ingredients to challenge for the league next season. The Frenchman joined Wenger in picking up the player of the month award for March thanks to his five goals last month. Since his nightmare against Monaco, Giroud has shown his class and importance to the team with seven goals in as many games, and he also netted for his country during the international break.

If Arsenal can continue their impressive run of form until the end of the season, they could ultimately end up with a second-placed finish as well as another FA Cup trophy, which would have to go down as a successful campaign. With one or two new recruits in the summer, Wenger will be quietly confident that his team could then go one better next season and end their wait for another Premier League crown.

Providing they can stay clear of injuries, which have proved a real burden over recent seasons, Arsenal may well be about to step it up another level.

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