Can Wenger's new squad beat last year's champions?

With the Premier League in full swing, football fans everywhere are looking to see if we can repeat or avoid the performances of our favourite teams last year.

So far, Manchester United are living up to their 2013 seventh place reputation, thanks to an embarrassing first game against Swansea City. Despite Wayne Rooney's best efforts, the Red Devils were beaten 2-1 by the 2013 12th place finishers, thanks to goals from Ki Sung-Yeung and Gylfi Sigurdsson.

The past is the past however, and now football fanatics everywhere are looking forward to seeing how Manchester United's biggest rivals, Manchester City, will fare against Wenger's newest additions. Arsenal will be taking on the 2013/2014 champions on September 13th at the Emirates Stadium in North London, and as it stands, odds are in favour of Arsenal achieving three points.

The Gunners seem to have history and the bookmakers' vote on their side – Betsafe so far have predicted they will win all their matches, and if their previous clash with Manchester City is anything to go by, they should have high hopes for the 13th.

Prior to the first game of the Premier League, FA Cup winners Arsenal took on Manchester City for the Community Shield title at Wembley. The team used the opportunity to stretch their legs and test their chemistry with newly signed players Alexis Sanchez, Mathieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers.

The game ended well for Arsenal, who managed to achieve an impressive 3-0, but none of the new boys were responsible for the goals. Instead, Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain each scored in the 21st, 42nd and 60th minutes respectively.

But it could be argued that Manchester City were saving their best efforts for the Premier League itself. Arsenal had not won a trophy for nine years prior to winning the FA Cup, hence they had all the more incentive to add a new piece of silverware to their collection. City meanwhile have acquired the Premier League title, the Football League Cup, the FA Cup and the Community Shield all within the past three years.

It's no secret that Manuel Pellegrini played his second team in the Community Shield, managing to show up the newly-signed Willy Caballero. He had clearly made the tactical decision to save the best for the real competition, and for that reason alone, Arsenal should watch out.

Sanchez was touted as the man who could save the Gunners from their 'fourth place' reputation but as yet has not proved himself. With the former champions to take on and goals to score, Arsenal still have a long way to go.