Theo Walcott has challenged Arsenal to hit the ground running if they want to mount a sustained bid for the Premier League title next season.

The Gunners recorded a 10-match unbeaten league run, which was sparked by their European win away to Bayern Munich, to snatch fourth place ahead of Tottenham and with it another shot at the Champions League, with a two-legged play-off next month.

However, it was inconsistencies earlier in the campaign – including shock cup exits to Bradford and then Blackburn – which cost Arsène Wenger's side and they slumped to as low as 10th in the table following a home defeat to Swansea at the start of December.

The England forward Walcott, who was top scorer with 21 goals, believes if the team can get off to a flying start when the new campaign opens, then they should be confident of lasting the distance and ending the best part of a decade without silverware.

"We need to remember those moments that we had and make sure we do it from the start, because we could be challenging for anything. We could beat anyone," Walcott told skysports.com.

"We want that sort of fear factor, especially at the Emirates. It is quite frustrating at times, because we should have done that at the start of the season. Who knows where we would have been."

Arsenal have started their summer dealings with the free transfer of the France Under-21 attacker Yaya Sanogo, and more signings are expected as Wenger takes the squad out to Asia for a pre-season tour which will include matches in Vietnam and Japan.

Additional funds of more than £75m are understood to be available for Wenger, should he wish to spend them.

Arsenal have been strongly linked with Real Madrid's £25m-rated forward Gonzalo Higuaín, Liverpool's Luis Suárez and the Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini, as well as Manchester United's Wayne Rooney, although the England international now appears set to stay at Old Trafford under new manager David Moyes.

The Brazil goalkeeper Júlio César is another reported target as he is set to leave Queens Park Rangers.

Arsenal have already moved on several fringe players such as Andrey Arshavin to ease the wage bill, with the Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner the next likely departure as he holds talks with Eintracht Frankfurt.

The defender Thomas Vermaelen, meanwhile, is a reported absentee from the Asia tour due to a back problem that could sideline the Belgian for the start of the new campaign.

The Spanish duo Santi Cazorla and Nacho Monreal have been given some extra time off by Arsenal following the Confederations Cup in Brazil.