Tuesday 14 April 2015 14:11, UK
Arsenal legend Martin Keown believes the club can mount a serious challenge for the Premier League title next season.
Arsene Wenger's side are on an eight-match winning run but despite rising to second, they remain seven points behind champions-elect Chelsea, who also have a game in hand.
Former England defender Keown, who made 451 appearances for the Gunners and won three titles, believes next term could be a different kettle of fish.
The 48-year-old said: "Chelsea will win it now but if you ask them next season, they won't fear anyone but they will be aware of Arsenal.
"They will want to challenge next season and they will want to start well next year.
"They need to strengthen in one or two positions but I'm not talking about wholesale changes which some others may have to make if they want to compete.
"They look more convincing as a team than they did last year. The players look together.
"The squad is better equipped now, Gabriel is putting (Per) Mertesacker under huge pressure and (Francis) Coquelin is in midfield instead of (Mikel) Arteta and (Mathieu) Flamini who are maybe coming to the end of their careers.
"They have a whole array of players who can play off the front and (Olivier) Giroud and (Danny) Welbeck are vying for the centre forward position. The competition for places creates intensity."
It is not just the league in which Arsenal have flourished of late - they travel to Wembley to face Reading in an FA Cup semi-final on Saturday.
Looking ahead to the tie, Keown added: "It has to represent progress if you're finishing two positions higher and still in the FA Cup."
