Arsene Wenger is more motivated than ever to make sure Arsenal return stronger from the "unluckiest" campaign under his guidance.
The Gunners boss has his work cut out to reshape a team capable of challenging for a Premier League title they last won in the unbeaten season of 2003/2004 after seeing long-serving midfielder Gilberto Silva, unsettled winger Alexander Hleb and the combative Mathieu Flamini all leave Emirates Stadium this summer.
However, fresh talent in the shape of Wales teenager Aaron Ramsey and 21-year-old France attacking winger Samir Nasri have already arrived and there could yet be a move for Aston Villa's England international Gareth Barry, rated at £18million.
Wenger - who came to Highbury in September 2006 and transformed the club into the dominant force of English football - felt there were positives to take from the last campaign which started so brightly but then unravelled following a pivotal clash at St Andrews where striker Eduardo suffered an horrific broken leg.
Yet the Arsenal manager also feels such bad fortune - Robin van Persie and Tomas Rosicky were both also crocked at a crucial time while key moments in big games went against the Gunners - cannot strike twice.
Asked if last season was his unluckiest as Arsenal manager, Wenger replied: "It was by far, with the decisions and injuries. At some stage you could not believe how bad it was.
"But you have to deal with that and have to use it as a platform to come back and be even stronger mentally."
Wenger told Arsenal TV Online: "We were very close, we were in the race and next year we want to show we can win it.
"It is important you fight for the championship and to win it. All the other trophies are more of a consolation than anything else.
"The team is performing well, but the target of a top-level sportsman is to always improve and I believe we can be more clinical, we can score more with the chances we create.
"I will try to achieve my best to develop the players, to fight in every game. I am more motivated than ever to achieve that.
"For the rest, you have to accept that it will never be be good enough. People always want more - that is normal."
Arsenal open their pre-season campaign at Barnet tomorrow, where Wenger has named a youthful squad and is expected to give Ramsey his debut, before heading off to a training camp in Austria, when Euro 2008 winner Cesc Fabregas and Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor - linked with a summer move away - are both expected to join up with the rest of the travelling party.
Some new faces could well be on board by the time the Gunners play a Champions League qualifier on August 12/13, but Wenger insists team building was not just a matter of opening the cheque book.
"Of course I am in a position where I can spend the money," he said.
"But every time we have done such a great job with the young players that you are concerned 'do we kill a young player or not by bringing another player in?'
"It is a very sensitive subject which is not specially linked with money."
