As we build towards the new season we look at Arsenal's hopes of bringing silverware to the Emirates.
Arsene Wenger may have just endured the most testing campaign of his Arsenal tenure, but the 61-year-old Frenchman remains as determined as ever to see his young side last the distance next season.
When Wenger led the Gunners out at Wembley for the Carling Cup final, they were all set to end a six-season trophy drought and looked ready to mount a sustained challenge on all four fronts.
But it was not to be as Birmingham scrambled a dramatic late winner and from there on in a campaign which had promised so much simply imploded.
It was the bitterest of pills for Wenger to swallow, having for so long championed the potential of his squad which appeared on the cusp of greatness.
Nevertheless, reinvigorated following the summer break, which again has seen speculation over the future of captain Cesc Fabregas, the Gunners boss remains steadfast in his belief that Arsenal's time will come.
"The last part of (last season) was the toughest of my career, emotionally, it was very difficult because we were on a low, and then you could see, the last three or four weeks were very difficult," Wenger recalled.
"It was because I took full responsibility for what happened. I knew at some stage that it was lost and I had so much hope for the team.
"Through November and December, you could feel that the team had really taken off and could win everything.
"We feel we were very close to winning the championship, and part of a young team's development is to carry on developing and win a trophy this year."
Wenger continued: "I believe the real destiny of this team is now there. They know as well as I know that we were very, very close.
Character
"You can say, 'okay, we missed our chance' or you say, 'let's show everybody that we can do it and come back stronger', which is what I think we can do because we are a young team and we can only be better.
"It demands the strength of character that the champions have. That's what we want to show."
Wenger was expected to make sweeping changes to a squad which had failed to last the distance, but instead has so far only brought in Ivory Coast forward Gervinho and young defender Carl Jenkinson, from Charlton.
Gael Clichy was a high-profile departure, while midfielder Denilson returned to Brazil with former club Sao Paulo on loan.
They could yet be followed out of the Emirates Stadium by the likes of Emmanuel Eboue, Nicklas Bendtner, Manuel Almunia and indeed contract rebel Samir Nasri should the Gunners look to cash in now rather than risk losing the France midfielder for nothing next summer.
However, whether Wenger will be able to land a central defender - having seen an initial approach for Everton's Phil Jagielka rebuffed - remains to be seen.
"We never have a problem with spending money - there's always someone happy to take it," the Arsenal manager said.
"The problem is that we need to find the right player who can help improve the team."
With Fabregas' future uncertain, Robin van Persie could soon find himself elevated to club captain.
The Holland forward was one of the few consistent performers over the end of last season, setting a new away scoring record as he netted 10 goals in 12 games.
Van Persie believes the best could yet be to come from him.
He said: "I was 27 last year and everyone would think that you have an amazing start to the season and then maybe grow from there, but I had an injury and needed time to get back to fitness.
"The second part of last year, I scored 18 Premier League goals so it is strange.
"You can't really tell beforehand whether you are going to have your best year because you don't really know what is going to happen.
"If it goes your way, I do believe that this could be a really good year for me."
Van Persie added: "Of course I want to win things, but winning things doesn't come from out of the blue. I am just a part of the whole story, it depends on many things."
