Arsenal
Not since Dennis Bergkamp has there been so much anticipation over the arrival of a Rolls-Royce of a player: Declan Rice has what it takes to run our midfield for years to come. Our squad certainly looks more fit for purpose this time, on paper at least. But it’s the chemistry that’s paramount: we’ll need patience.
Key players/weak links How long will it take Kai Havertz to recover from Chelsea’s attempts to use him as a battering-ram striker? Arteta has to find a quick way to get an influential return on the £65m. Losing Jesus from the openers was a blow, and we could also do with the likes of Cozier-Duberry easing our reliance on Saka.
We need to sign… Pretty much every fan at every club dreams of adding a 20+ goals striker. Ivan Toney would be beautiful, even with his ban running until January. But with the Kroenke piggybank already smashed, and with Vieira still to prove his merit, I won’t moan if we conclude our business with Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus.
Headline-maker Aaron Ramsdale. Never shy, he’s about to face pressure from David Raya.
PREDICTIONS
We will finish 1st; Top four 1 Arsenal 2 Manchester City 3 Newcastle 4 Liverpool; Bottom three 18 Bournemouth 19 Sheffield United 20 Luton; First manager sacked Ange Postecoglou
• Bernard Azulay onlinegooner.com; @GoonerN5
Aston Villa
I’m more optimistic than I have been for years, which, of course, brings its own problems. Our momentum in the second half of last season was almost unstoppable, but this year will be tougher with the Thursday-Sunday routine to contend with and teams maybe more able to work us out as injuries bite. But the manager is a sly fox. He has already bought very well (Tielemans could be a genius pick) and we’ve nodded to a flexible playing style in pre-season. A repeat of last year’s finishing position plus going deep in a cup would be a great season, but possibly not in everyone’s eyes.
Key players/weak links Injuries to Martínez or Watkins would be hard, but there’s a long list of improving young players, so competition for places will be fierce. Jaden Philogene-Bidace is a shirt-seller’s dream and may prove an unexpected diamond.
We need to sign… Olsen isn’t the most convincing backup keeper. We may also need some ballast at right-back – but if the window closed tomorrow, I think Emery would still be pleased.
Headline-maker Fingers crossed, we don’t have a Billy BB to upset the vibe this season: it’s a nice team spirit.
PREDICTIONS
We will finish 7th; Top four 1 Manchester City 2 Liverpool 3 Newcastle 4 Manchester United; Bottom three 18 Wolves 19 Sheffield United 20 Bournemouth; First manager sacked Marco Silva.
• Jonathan Pritchard
Bournemouth
There’s definitely more optimism around than this time last year. Iraola brings an exciting organised chaos to the way his teams play, and the spending has been positive: winger Justin Kluivert, left-back Milos Kerkez and French midfield prospect Romain Faivre all look good, with more to come. The owners seem to be delivering on their pledge to make the club thrive rather than just survive. “Always advance, never retreat” is their mantra – we’re buying into that.
Key players/weak links The all-round ability and forward play of Dominic Solanke will be key to any success. Philip Billing also scored and assisted plenty in crucial games last season. Marcus Tavernier is a real talent, too. But we’ve yet to see the best of Dango Ouattara and Hamed Traorè.
We need to sign… Alex Scott, Max Aarons and Tyler Adams would all definitely improve us.
Headline-maker The renaissance of the super-skilful David Brooks and the return of his smile is something we’re all looking forward to. If he can recapture his form from a few seasons ago, the country will fall in love with his story and his immense natural talent.
PREDICTIONS
We will finish 12th; Top four 1 Manchester City 2 Newcastle 3 Manchester United 4 Arsenal; Bottom three 18 Everton 19 Sheffield United 20 Luton; First manager sacked Steve Cooper
• Jeff Hayward Back of the Net podcast; @afcbpodcast
Brentford
It’s all about the start. If we can hit the ground running, there’s no reason we can’t aim for another mid-table finish. The obvious dark cloud over us is Ivan Toney’s ban until January, but I’d like to think we’ll handle it: young players such as Kevin Schade and Keane Lewis-Potter can help fill the gap.
Key players/weak links Bryan Mbeumo will again be key in Toney’s absence, Ben Mee is a rock and Rico Henry remains one of the best left-backs in the UK. Christian Nørgaard was really missed on the US tour – he wasn’t there due to the birth of his child – but 18-year-old winger Michael Olakigbe really impressed. Definitely one to watch.
We need to sign… It feels like we’ve been needing a backup left-back ever since the year dot. But the big uncertainty, at least until the winter, is up front. Hopefully Schade, signed from Freiburg in January, can step up.
Headline-makers I met a load of American Brentford fans on the US tour, many of whom are absolutely bonkers. So I’d say Peruvian Bee, with his floral shirts and cigars, and José The Portland Bee will make waves when they come over this season.
PREDICTIONS
We will finish 11th; Top four 1 Arsenal 2 Man City 3 Newcastle 4 Brighton; Bottom three 18 Everton 19 Wolves 20 Bournemouth; First manager sacked Steve Cooper.
• Billy Grant Beesotted podcast and blog; @Beesotted; @BillyTheBee99
Brighton
I’m extremely optimistic - and ridiculously excited about being in Europe. We looked excellent on the US tour, especially when we outplayed Newcastle for an hour. We’re bound to miss Mac Allister but we’ve got so many talented players who will thrive under De Zerbi. And we might be about to see another piece of great business from Tony Bloom: selling our third choice goalie to Chelsea and using the money to buy Chelsea-target Mohammed Kudus from Ajax…
Key players/weak links The whole city is praying that Moisés Caicedo will stay: if he does, he’ll be key. As will Lewis Dunk - again. Hopefully João Pedro will settle quickly, and much is expected of Simon Adingra: he scored two stunning goals in the States and, while on loan at Tony Bloom’s Belgian club last season, was held in higher regard than even Kaoru Mitoma. There is so much young talent here to watch out for: Julio Enciso, Evan Ferguson, Yasin Ayari, Cameron Peupion, Jack Hinshelwood and our 18-year-old Argentina international Facundo Buonanotte. No weak links.
We need to sign… Maybe another defender, because Chelsea, who are becoming almost as loathsome as Palace, won’t let us have Levi Colwill. He was outstanding on loan for us, adored at the Amex and there could be no better place for him to develop.
Headline-maker It’s all about De Zerbi, with his wonderful passion, rants on the sidelines and knee slides. He’s already winding up Chelsea about how we’re in Europe and they’re not.
PREDICTIONS
We will finish 6th; Top four 1 Arsenal 2 Man City 3 Newcastle 4 Man Utd;
Bottom three 18 Crystal Palace 19 Everton 20 Luton; First manager sacked David Moyes.
• Steph Fincham
Burnley
In May last year, post-relegation, I wondered if we’d ever get back to this division. But we romped back: last season was incredible for us. I’m not expecting a Champions League place come next May, but I’m optimistic enough to believe we can be some distance away from the drop.
Key players/weak links We’ll need to lean on our more experienced players at times, but a lot of our threat will come from out wide: Manuel Benson and Anass Zaroury are more than capable of winning games with a piece of brilliance. We’re building a talented young squad, signing players such as Zeki Amdouni and Luca Koleosho to add to the younger home-grown players such as Lewis Richardson, Owen Dodgson and Dara Costelloe.
We need to sign… It would make sense to add a left-back to replace Ian Maatsen who was on loan last season, and I’d really like a strong, mobile midfielder, and a striker too. But generally the squad is looking good and balanced.
Headline-makers A year ago I’d have pointed straight at Ashley Barnes, but Norwich will be benefiting from him now. Expect to hear plenty from, and about, our owners, though.
PREDICTIONS
We will finish 12th; Top four 1 Man City 2 Liverpool 3 Arsenal 4 Man Utd;
Bottom three 18 Bournemouth 19 Sheffield United 20 Luton; First manager sacked Andoni Iraola.
• Tony Scholes UptheClarets.com; @utcdotcom
Chelsea
There’s cautious optimism here. We’re finally having the big clearout that’s been needed for a couple of years, and Pochettino’s general approach has been refreshing: it feels like we finally have an elite manager again. We’ve been seeing in friendlies an increase in fitness and performance and the squad seems to be bonding well. With no European football there’s everything to play for domestically.
Key players/weak links Reece James, Enzo Fernández and Christopher Nkunku are crucial. This is a young team so we’ll need calm heads among the exuberance – just as much as we need patience from the fans. Hopefully Lewis Hall will get chances if he isn’t loaned out, and Levi Colwill needs to live up to his rave reviews and the trust the club is putting in him. Cucurella remains a weak link: he has to show he’s worthy of a squad place.
We need to sign… Moisés Caicedo is a must in a lightweight midfield, and another striker would make a real difference. I’d like Ivan Toney: an advance January signing who’s already a proven scorer at this level.
Headline-maker Pochettino. Behind that calm persona he’s full of touchline fireworks. He’ll take no prisoners.
PREDICTIONS
We will finish 5th; Top four 1 Man City 2 Arsenal 3 Liverpool 4 Man Utd;
Bottom three 18 Everton 19 Luton 20 Sheffield United; First manager sacked Steve Cooper.
• Paul Baker in memory of Trizia Fiorellino
Crystal Palace
There’s two ways to look at this. Glass half-empty: Zaha has gone, Olise is injured for the first two months, and Eze is rumoured not to be signing a new deal. Glass half-full: Roy Hodgson and his team are back at the helm, we haven’t (yet) lost any of our stars other than Wilf, and we’ve made good signings in Jefferson Lerma and the potentially hugely exciting Brazilian teenager Matheus França from Flamengo. It could add up to another entertaining season.
Key players/weak links Marc Guéhi continues to go from strength to strength at the back, and Eze has looked unbelievably sharp in pre-season. Jes Rak-Sakyi might get a chance to impress having done so well out on loan last season, and Naouirou Ahamada is also pushing to feature.
We need to sign… As always we’re desperate for a quality striker. Eddie Nketiah has been continually linked.
Headline-maker One of our American owners, John Textor, has been in the press a lot recently. I expect we’ll be hearing a lot more about his intentions, and the implications for the rest of the board as they look to start building the new stand next summer.
PREDICTIONS
We will finish 12th; Top four 1 Man City 2 Arsenal 3 Chelsea 4 Man Utd; Bottom three 18 Everton 19 Luton 20 Sheffield United; First sacking Paul Heckingbottom
• Chris Waters @Clapham_Grand
Everton
In what will likely be our final complete season at Goodison Park, far from anticipating a campaign befitting the stadium’s glorious past, Evertonians face a season of anxiety – particularly if the long-mooted investment by MSP and the removal of Bill Kenwright fails to materialise. After the Palace game kept us up in 2022 the cry was “never again”; after the Bournemouth game last season “never again” was mixed with the incredible sight and sound of 37,000 Evertonians roaring “sack the board” at the four empty seats in the director’s box - seats which have been empty since January and will remain so unless significant change is made in the next week. We remain a club in absolute crisis, strategically, operationally and financially.
Key players/weak links Pickford, Tarkowski, McNeil are the three reliable quality players. We expect good things from James Garner; Gueye will provide consistency. experience and reliability. Above all else we need the return of a fit Calvert-Lewin who not only provides goals but a focal point for the whole team. The signing of Ashley Young may prove a masterstroke but is a reflection of the dire circumstances in which we find ourselves.
We need to sign… We’re scouring the free agent and loan markets for full-backs, wingers and goalscorers.
Headline-makers The fans: our biggest asset in the last two relegation fights, with potentially a third to come.
PREDICTIONS
We will finish 17th; Top four 1 Man City 2 Arsenal 3 Aston Villa 4 Liverpool;
Bottom three 18 Wolves 19 Sheffield United 20 Luton; First manager sacked Julen Lopetegui.
• The Esk TheEsk.org; @TheEsk
Fulham
Last season’s top-10 finish should have teed us up nicely. But this is Fulham, and it’s been yet another muddled pre-season, only this time with added interference from the Saudis. We’ve had Willian agreeing terms with Al-Shabab two weeks after signing a new deal with us and Al-Hilal still waving cash at Mitrovic. Even Marco Silva seemed to be up for grabs. It’s been unsettling.
Key players/weak links Despite all that, the squad’s spirit seems high, galvanised by the boss’s decision to stay. If Palhinha can shrug off his injury we’ll be fine, especially with the super Bernd Leno in goal. As for Mitro, who knows? Ream and Pereira are almost match-fit again after nasty injuries. There’s concern, though, over whether we’ll have a settled centre-back pair with Tosin possibly on the move. But surely Bassey will prove a great signing… We had a glimpse of promising young defender Luc De Fougerolles preseason, and Luke Harris might figure more, too.
We need to sign… Strength in depth. We have to build and reaffirm that we belong at the top table. OK, so Harry Kane is unlikely to come our way, but Demarai Gray and Fluminense’s André might, as could Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Headline-maker If he stays, Mitro. If he doesn’t keep himself in check, Marco. Or, if the Premier League continues to try to make football a non-contact sport, Palhinha. Tackling is an art when it’s not reckless.
PREDICTIONS
We will finish 9th; Top four 1 Man City 2 Arsenal 3 Man Utd 4 Liverpool;
Bottom three 18 Everton 19 Sheffield United 20 Luton; First manager sacked Paul Heckingbottom.
• David Lloyd @DMLTOOFIF
