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Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal are perfectly placed to achieve more trophy success.
The Arsenal captain has not played since November due to an ankle injury, but is fit and in contention to be in the squad for tonight's FA Cup final against Aston Villa at Wembley.
The Gunners finished third in the Barclays Premier League this season and won the FA Cup last term - and are well positioned to add to that haul of silverware in future years, according to the Spaniard.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XIShow all 11 1 /11Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI Wojciech Szczesny (Arsenal) While David Ospina has usurped Szczesny's spot in the Premier League, the towering Pole has been an ever-present in the Gunners' FA Cup campaign and is likely to regain his place. Shay Given, who should line up for Villa, has acquitted himself well in the cup, but shipped five first-half goals to Southampton in the Premier League in his most recent outing.
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Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI Hector Bellerin (Arsenal) Bellerin has been one of the finds of the season for Arsene Wenger, the 20-year-old displacing Calum Chambers as first-choice right-back following Mathieu Debuchy's injury troubles. Leandro Bacuna, who should start for Villa, has offered plenty going forward but his defending has personified a leaky back four.
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Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI Per Mertesacker (Arsenal) The German centre-back has had his critics this season, and admitted that his form suffered after he came back victorious from the World Cup. However, he has been integral to the Gunners' run of just 11 goals conceded in the final 18 Premier League games. Villa's own World Cup star, Ron Vlaar, suffers in comparison.
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Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal) It was no coincidence that Arsenal's defence looked vulnerable in the early season, when the Frenchman was missing with an achilles injury. Koscielny is much more mobile than his defensive partner, and has been in fine form since Christmas. Jores Okore, who missed last season for injury, has at aleast had a run of games for Villa, but remains too error-prone to challenge his opposite number.
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Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI Nacho Monreal (Arsenal) The Spanish left-back has made the position his own after Kieran Gibbs struggled for form and fitness. Struggled in the middle, but has been a solid, calming influence and deceptively good going forward. His opposite number Kieran Richardson has been in and out of the side in a frustrating first season at Villa Park.
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Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI Francis Coquelin (Arsenal) It is unfortunate for Ashley Westwood, who has been one of Villa's more underrated and consistent performers this season, to come up against Coquelin. The Frenchman has been one of the Premier League's breakout stars, and has been compared to a £40m by Wenger.
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Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) Ramsey hasn't had quite the impact he made during a sensational 2013/14 season, but has scored 10 goals in all competitions and when fit remains one of English football's most effective midfielders. Tom Cleverley finished the season in fine goalscoring form, but spent much of the campaign struggling for consistency.
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Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI Santi Cazorla (Arsenal) Fabian Delph broke into the England side at the start of the season, but struggled to maintain form and fitness despite some energetic displays. Cazorla, on the other hand, has been superb for the Gunners, playing 52 games in all competitions and pulling the strings in the side's best displays of the season.
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Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI Mesut Ozil (Arsenal) He has been overshadowed in large parts by the club's more recent big-money signing, Alexis Sanchez, but Ozil has put in a string of influential, classy displays in the second half of the season. Charles N'Zogbia, who is likely to start for Villa, remains an inconsistent, mercurial figure.
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Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) Jack Grealish may have earned plaudits in the final weeks of the season for his promising displays, but Alexis Sanchez has enjoyed one of the best debut seasons in Premier League history, contributing 16 goals and eight assists. Despite a post-Christmas dip in form, the Chilean is the real deal.
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Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) Yes, Christian Benteke has finished the season in absurdly good form, with 12 goals in 12 games. And yes, Giroud's shooting boots deserted him in spectacular style against Monaco. However, the Frenchman, who has had more than his fair share of critics, has scored more goals in less games this season than Benteke, who struggled woefully for goals until Tim Sherwood took the reigns at Villa. Giroud is harder working, brings teammates into the game better and just gets the nod over his opposite number.
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"The ambitions I think are going to be different for next season," the 33-year-old said. "The base, the squad, the quality we have is better than we had last year.
"I think the club is in a strong position as well to push, because financially it's in a very good position.
"I think it's the right moment. We have all the elements to move forward, to be challenging.
"I think we need to be demanding, because I think we have the ability and what it takes to go ahead and set bigger targets.
"We know the challenge is there and I think we have all the elements to go and progress again."
Last season's FA Cup final defeat of Hull ended a nine-year wait for silverware for the Gunners, and Arteta wants further success.
He said: "Such a long time at this club without winning trophies was was a big lorry (load) to carry behind your back.
"We have to create some momentum now and to do that there's no better way than to win trophies and set some high standards.
"That's what we're looking for. We have progressed from last year and we're going to keep going.
"I can't see anything stopping that happening. It's only down to us."
Whether Arteta is part of the future at Arsenal remains to be seen.
Mikel Arteta with Alexis Sanchez during training (Getty Images) He stated his wish to stay at the Emirates Stadium, but was coy on his future, with his contract expiring this summer.
"I would love to (stay), yes," the former Real Sociedad, Rangers and Everton midfielder said.
"We're both very clear what we want and we will announce something after the final.
"It's been a strange season for me since November. With my injury I've had some really tough times, but I have learned a lot.
"It's been nice as well to see things out of the barrier and having a different input from outside, instead of having it on the field.
Santi Cazorla, Arteta and Alexis Sanchez celebrate with the Community Shield (Getty) "But my aim is to be on the pitch as much as I can and that's what I'm working for.
"Everybody wants to be involved in a final and what that means.
"I've been training with the team. It's up to the manager to decide what he wants to do. I will respect any decision."
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