ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has told the rest of the Barclays Premier League title challengers his strengthened squad will be "up for it" again next season.

The Gunners ended their warm-up schedule with a 4-0 win at Cologne, where new signing Lukas Podolski grabbed a brace.

The future of captain Robin van Persie has yet to be resolved.

Manchester United are weighing up increasing their offer for the Dutchman, and Wenger insists his new additions – which also include Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla – as well as the expected return to fitness of Jack Wilshere, means Arsenal will be capable of a more consistent challenge.

"We want to (compete for honours) and have a desire to," said Wenger.

"We are up for it and what we want is to come out of the season and know we have given our best.

"I feel we did that last year, finishing third after the start we had.

"The first target is to do as well as we can in every game and see where we stand at the end of the season, but we want to fight for the championship.

"We are in a much stronger position now because last summer we lost Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas, and on top of that we lost Abou Diaby and Wilshere (to injury)."

Podolski is relishing life at his new club, and said: "I have felt like a part of Arsenal from the first day and I am very proud to play here. It was great in my first game, when I scored two goals."