Arsenal aim to finally secure silverware

By Martin Graham

Liverpool begin the new Premier League campaign determined to keep hold of their crown after a record-breaking summer in the transfer market. Under new manager Arne Slot, the Merseyside club wrapped up last season’s title with four matches left, finishing 10 points clear of second-placed Arsenal.

The Reds have already committed £269m in fees for new recruits, including a £100m record signing of Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Florian Wirtz – a deal that could rise to £116m. Striker Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt cost an initial £69m, while Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez joined for £40m. Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong arrived for £29.5m and Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili completed his previously agreed £25m move.

Arsenal, who finished as runners-up last term, have invested £201m on fresh faces. Among their acquisitions are Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting, Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, and Chelsea duo Noni Madueke and Kepa Arrizabalaga, as well as Brentford’s Christian Norgaard and Valencia’s Cristhian Mosquera. Departures include Kieran Tierney, Jorginho, Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu, all released.

Manager Mikel Arteta has overseen a transformation that has restored the club as regular challengers and brought them back to the Champions League. Pre-season has shown a shift in approach, with faster ball progression aimed at getting the most out of Gyokeres. The expectation inside the club is clear – this must be the season where near-misses turn into trophies.

City look to rebound after setback

Manchester City’s third-place finish last year was their lowest since 2017, ending a campaign without a major trophy and including a surprise early exit from the Club World Cup. Manager Pep Guardiola has moved to refresh the squad with five arrivals: Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan, Rayan Cherki from Lyon, Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves, goalkeeper James Trafford from Burnley, and Rosenborg’s Sverre Nypan.

City have parted ways with experienced figures such as Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker. The £154m summer outlay reflects a bid to re-energize, particularly in midfield. While Liverpool and Arsenal are attracting the bulk of attention as title favorites, the reigning treble winners of 2023 could benefit from operating out of the main spotlight.

Chelsea and Newcastle push to close the gap

Chelsea’s £249m spending spree has been aimed at building on last season’s progress under Enzo Maresca. The Blues claimed the Club World Cup with a 3-0 win over Paris St-Germain and have a young core led by Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, and Marc Cucurella.

This summer’s signings include Joao Pedro from Brighton, Liam Delap from Ipswich, Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens, and Ajax defender Jorrel Hato. Deals for Dario Essugo from Sporting and Estevao Willian from Palmeiras have also been finalized. Outgoings include Kepa Arrizabalaga to Arsenal, Joao Felix to Al-Nassr, Djordje Petrovic to Bournemouth and Mathis Amougou to Strasbourg. Internally, the aim is another top-four finish, but some in the squad believe silverware could come sooner.

Newcastle, who ended last season in fifth, have brought in Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga and loaned Aaron Ramsdale from Southampton, spending £55m in total. However, they missed out on several targets, including Ekitike, Joao Pedro, James Trafford, Liam Delap and Dean Huijsen. The club has also seen the exit of sporting director Paul Mitchell.

While the Magpies showed they can match top sides – demonstrated in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool – squad depth remains an issue. With Champions League football back on Tyneside and a thin roster, they will need quick reinforcements to compete on multiple fronts.

Martin Graham is an MFF sports writer