Winterburn: Arsenal Can Challenge for the Premier League if They Sign Five Players

Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn believes that his former club needs to sign four or five players during the summer if they are to stand a chance of winning the Premier League next season.

The Gunners finished fourth despite leading the table for a significant part of the 2013/14 campaign. Injuries to Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey during the course of the season severely affected their consistency, thus preventing them from winning the title.

Following their success in the FA Cup, Arsene Wenger will surely be keen on taking a plunge into the market to make some quality additions so as to fill the Emirates' trophy cabinet with silverware in the coming years.

The Frenchman failed to fulfill his desire to sign a striker during the winter transfer window in order to ease the goal-scoring burden on his compatriot Olivier Giroud.

Winterburn points out that the striking department is not the only area where Wenger must splash the cash in the upcoming transfer window.

The former left back also warns the 64-year-old boss that there will be a lot of 'frustrated' figures should he be unsuccessful in making significant signings before the league commences on August 16.

"A lot of people are talking about three players that would really strengthen them. There are four or five positions [that need work]," Winterburn told talkSPORT.

"Obviously they need another centre forward, if not two. People are talking about the right-back situation and maybe bringing in a strong holding midfielder."

"A lot of people will be frustrated if we go into the last week of the transfer window and Arsene hasn't made any major signings," the 50-year-old concluded.

Two departures from Arsenal are already confirmed as Bacary Sagna revealed that he will leave while second-choice goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski has made the switch to Swansea City.

Carl Jenkinson remains the lone candidate in the squad to take the French international's place in the Gunners' starting XI.

Cardiff City's David Marshall has been linked with a move to the Emirates as backup for Wojciech Szczesny. Wenger will also be looking to bolster his midfield and sign a long-term replacement for Mikel Arteta who turned 32 in March this year.