https://orange1079fm.com/arteta-reacts-after-arsenals-big-win-over-man-city/The Premier League returns this weekend following a 89-day break, with clubs renewing their ambitions ahead of the new season.
Arsenal ended a 22-year wait for the title in May when head coach Mikel Arteta steered them to hoist the coveted trophy.
The Gunners will be looking to defend their crown as English champions, a feat that has been rare since the inception of the Premier League in 1992.
Only three teams have defended their title with three different managers in the history of the competition.
Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson did it four times, and two of those were three in a row. Jose Mourinho led Chelsea to hoist and retain the Premier League trophy in the 2004/05 and 2005/06 seasons.
Manchester City and Pep Guardiola were the last team to do so twice, including four in a row which started in 2020-2021 and ended in 2023/24.
Arsenal face stern competition from fellow traditional top six clubs and other emerging teams like Aston Villa who have put up a tough fight in previous seasons.
At the other end of the table there will be a tasty battle between newcomers like Coventry City, Hull City and Ipswich Town together with teams who will be fighting to stay up.
Frank Lampard guided Coventry City to the Premier League, after being absent since the 2000/01 season. Hull City will also have a novel feeling as they have been away for nine years.
Ipswich Town had a quick return to the top flight following an uninspiring 2024/2025 season which got them relegated.
I expect Arsenal to retain their title as the champions of England come May 2027. Despite having a wonderful team, the Gunners have beefed up their squad with the signings of Bruno Guimarães and Christos Tzolis. The Londoners permanently secured the services of Piero Hincapié, who impressed during his loan spell at the Emirates last season.
Manchester City start a new life with Enzo Maresca following the departure of Guardiola. The Spanish coach brought to an end a ten-year stay at the Etihad, after winning it all and etching his name in the history of English football.
The Citizens might have lost the Community Shield to Arsenal over the weekend, but I am still tipping them to finish second just as they did last season.
Chelsea finished tenth in the previous campaign after being around the top 5 for the vast majority of the season. With the arrival of Xabi Alonso and other signings, I am audaciously tipping the Blues to finish third.
A lack of experience in the squad and the sudden departure of Maresca disrupted the West Londoners from having a better end to the campaign, and their owners have learned from those mistakes. Adding the likes of Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson to their ranks seemed to be a very good idea to balance experience and youth in the squad.
Manchester United will be the team I pick to finish fourth in the Premier League. The Red Devils started last season very poorly, but the arrival of head coach Michael Carrick coincided with the team’s purple patch. I would have placed them higher on the table, but their inactivity in the transfer market this summer coupled with extra assignments in Europe throughout the season is the only reason I believe they are going to finish outside the top three.
I smell danger for Liverpool as I don’t believe they have the team to challenge for the title or finish in the top four. Though the team’s transfer window is still open, failure to replace Mohamed Salah would be a very big blow.
Head coach Andoni Iraola has been handed an unbalanced squad, but I still feel they have what it takes to finish 5th.
Aston Villa have been a revelation under Unai Emery, and they had a very good run last season. But with the departure of Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne, I feel the Villans will settle for a sixth-place finish.
Tottenham Hotspur have been subpar for the past two seasons. Their Premier League status was under serious threat until the final day last season, but with arrivals of Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke, and a lack of European football, I believe they have what it takes to finish 7th.
From 8th place to 17th place will be Everton, Brighton, Bournemouth, Newcastle, Brentford, Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Coventry, in no particular order.
The margins between these teams will be very slim and anything can happen. Part of me still thinks Coventry might slip up and go down instead of Leeds United.
The three teams that will be relegated in the 2026/27 season will be Leeds, Ipswich Town and Hull City.
