Rounding off this year’s week of divisional previews we profile English football’s top-flight which – for all its predictability – will no doubt offer plenty of high-drama during the course of the season.
Arsenal
Am I alone in questioning the narrative that suggests that Petr Cech is the missing piece in the jigsaw that is Arsenal’s pursuit of a first Premier League title since 2004? That’s not to say that the Czech stopper isn’t an excellent player – more that, in Colombian David Ospina, the Gunners already seemed to have finally found a solution to a long-standing problem position. Similarly, the emergence of Francis Coquelin has plugged the perennial gaping hole in front of their back four, and Laurent Koscielny has evolved into a commanding central defender. At the other end of the pitch, Arsenal’s attackers – aided and abetted by Aaron Ramsey and the superb Santi Cazorla – are lightning quick and capable of slicing any defence to shreds, with Alexis Sanchez having instantly found his feet in England. The only real issues the Gunners face are, I’d suggest, psychological rather than matters of personnel. If they can improve their consistency and stamina, and find a way to win ugly whenever they’re off the pace, then Wenger could yet get his hands on the trophy for a fourth time.
Verdict: Runners-up
Chelsea
The season hasn’t even started and Jose Mourinho has already begun the mind games, reigniting feuds with both Rafa Benitez and Arsene Wenger. His comments have served as something of a smokescreen to distract attention away from the relative lack of action at Stamford Bridge, which could be interpreted as complacency. Mourinho has replaced Petr Cech with Stoke’s Asmir Begovic and Didier Drogba with former Man Utd loan flop Radamel Falcao – the latter move indicative of the Portuguese’s supreme confidence in his own ability to get the best out of someone – but the only other activity of note has seen Filipe Luis return to Atletico Madrid. The Blues won the league at a canter last year, and it’s always dangerous to underestimate Mourinho, but the champions’ squad suddenly doesn’t look as strong as those of their closest rivals and they can hardly hope to be so fortunate with injuries this time around. As the creative fulcrum of the side, Cesc Fabregas in particular is priceless, though Gary Cahill, Nemanja Matic, Eden Hazard and Diego Costa are all critical components in their bid to retain the title.
Verdict: Top five
Liverpool
If Brendan Rodgers is suffering from survivor’s guilt, having clung to his job while assistant Colin Pascoe paid the price for a poor season, then retail therapy appears to be just what the doctor ordered. The collective failure of last summer’s signings meant that Liverpool never came close to a reprise of their 2013/14 title challenge, but Rodgers has faced a similar dilemma this close-season: how to invest the substantial proceeds from the sale of his best player. The impact of Raheem Sterling’s defection to Man City will be offset by the arrivals of Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino, while the early acquisitions of out-of-contract duo Danny Ings and James Milner are among the most astute of the summer. And of course, Rodgers couldn’t resist yet another raid on Southampton, on this occasion returning to Merseyside with full-back Nathaniel Clyne just in time to wave goodbye to Glen Johnson. With the addition of a commanding central defender (one who, unlike Kolo Toure and Martin Skrtel, doesn’t need to be boiled down for glue), the Reds should run their rivals at the top extremely close indeed.
Verdict: Top five
Man City
Like Rodgers, Manuel Pellegrini is a man under huge pressure – as is Raheem Sterling, finally confirmed as a Man City player following protracted negotiations, unsavoury machinations and an obscene £49m transfer fee that made him the most expensive Englishman of all time. While at that price Sterling is practically guaranteed to start, you have to wonder what induced Fabian Delph’s extraordinary volte-face . The midfielder has failed to heed the cautionary tale that is the experience of Villa team-mates Micah Richards and Scott Sinclair, as well as Sunderland’s Adam Johnson and Jack Rodwell, which suggests that the Etihad is all too often a graveyard for young English talent. With Stevan Jovetic already gone and Edin Dzeko set to follow him to Serie A, City look a little short-handed up front – something they’ll need to rectify before the end of August if they’re to eclipse their noisy neighbours and mount a serious title challenge.
Verdict: Top five
Man Utd
Man City may have made the biggest single purchase of the summer, but it’s their cross-city rivals whose display of financial clout and pulling power has been most impressive. If you’re going to pigheadedly persevere with a weak central defence staffed by Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo, then the most sensible course of remedial action is to sign Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger to form a more resolute protective shield in midfield and to retain possession more effectively. The termination of Falcao’s loan and the curiously low-key departure of Robin van Persie have both depleted the Red Devils’ striking options, but Louis van Gaal has promised to restore Wayne Rooney to his customary position up front, while Javier Hernandez is back from a temporary sojourn in Madrid and the summer’s marquee signing Memphis Depay also has an eye for goal. Add in top-drawer Italian full-back Matteo Darmian and the message from Old Trafford is loud and clear: Man Utd will not settle for finishing outside the top three for a third season in succession, and indeed have more than half an eye on reclaiming the top prize for the first time since Fergie’s retirement.
Verdict: Champions
Source: The Two unfortunates
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