Arsenal have one of the best keepers in the world in Jens Lehmann

DEF:
Nobody remembers about Johan Djorou, part of the swiss defence that kept a clean sheet in all 4 games at WC2006. While Senderos may be injured, when fit he is more classy than Campbell in my opinion. Lauren is training again, this means he could move to central defence, keeping one of the most exciting wingbacks in the premiership (Eboue) on the right. Ashley cole must leave, if he doesnt want to be there he should go, only played in the CL final because Flamini was injured.
Remember 10 clean sheets in CL up to final, with Djorou, Toure and Senderos in the middle, Flamini and Eboue out wide. Surely this shows you that the defence is strong, the only one not at WC was Flamini

MIF:
Probably the best 19 year old in the world, Cesc Fabregas, even a better player than Vieira is now. Gilberto is a rock, and with the likes of Rosicky, Hleb, Ljungberg, Reyes, this is very exciting for Arsenal fans. plus there is the 16 year old Merida, who from midfield scored 2 goals in a friendly the other day, comes from some academy as Messi and Cesc. Remember Abou Diaby and Flamini are both defensive midfielders as well

FW
The best player in the world behind Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry
One of the most talented strikers in holland, Robin Van Persie
This youngster , Theo Walcott
Top African scorer in qualifications, Emmanuel Adebayour
Young Italian star, Arturo Lupoli
And Jeremie Aliadiere, who has returned strongly from his injury.


I am going to stick out my neck and say that with all the big names at Chelsea, they will fight and with an idiot of a manager that is mourinho, I put my choice as Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd and Spurs.

All those backing Liverpool have obviously not been following the pre season

Tyron

Pre-season doesn't matter one iota once the real action gets underway.

Did you see the magnificent way they scraped through against Maccabi. there are far too many transfers within liverpool, no player can ever be settled, Benitez has bought something like 16 players in the last 3 and a half years.

Wenger =5
Ferguson = 4

Chelsea = 658748910

Sorry had to chuckle when i read this!

Ain't got a march on PADDY KENNY!..so the Blades to stay up it is then!!

In my opinion, and it's the same as everyone else, Chelsea will piss the premiership this season. Simple as. Look how well they done last season, and now they have added one of the best midfielders, and one of the best strikers in the world in Ballack and Schevchenko.

Anyone who thinks that because they have too many star players it will affect them is very much mistaken.

A side that can, in theory, lose nearly £100m in transferred players and not bat an eyelid are going to be extremely difficult to beat. Even losing Duff and Crespo isn't going to bother them.

Man United are always a hard side to beat, no matter what. Granted, transfers have been next to nothing (Getting that much for Carrick put a great smile on my face!) but they still have players in their team that can play at the highest level, and they have been together for a long time too, so they know how each other play. If Smudge gets back to fitness quickly, they will be hard to get past.

Arsenal (will this word be detected by the swear filter????) don't need to buy players (unfortunately). They have a very good young squad, and with Mr Henry up front, they will score goals. Even though i'm a yid, i do admire Senderos and Fabregas (hate the rest of them though), and like it has been said before, defensive frailties may be their downfall.

As for the pitch, if you have watched Arse-nal in previous seasons, they have been experts at playing their game through the middle of the park, whilst their opponents can't use the width they prefer. Maybe this wider pitch will be a downfall too?

Liverpool - write them off at your peril. Bellamy is an excellent signing in my opinion. Without him, Blackburn would have relied solely on Pedersen last season. They are also second only to Chelsea in the defensive department, and their midfield is far from dodgy.

Tottenham, now that's better! The home of english football (slightly stolen from Leeds, West Ham etc). Losing Carrick wasn't good, but that's millions in the bank to go on yet more young quality buys! Zakora - highly rated and an Arsenal target. Berbatov - Man U target, relatively unheard of before joining us but has a great track record. Assou-Ekotto and Dervite - two up and coming young defenders.

I'm very happy with our signings, and if these players follow in the footsteps of our other young talents (Dawson and Lennon to name two), then we have a bright future ahead of us!

Newcastle? Never mind (sorry Les! )

Top 5:

Chelsea
Man Utd
Liverpool
Arsenal
Spurs

This topic is so topcentric. Liverpoos, Arse, Man U, and Chelski will finish top 4, who cares what order. The bottom is where it is at. The struggle for survival is so much more exciting than the fat cats fighting. So lets have a bottom 5 predictions.

My particular favourites for the drop this year, Fulham they must be due, Middlesbrough(just awful), Wigan now their strikers have gone, and of course 2 of the three teams that have gone up, plus Charlton now they have Iain Dowie in charge. So here are mine,

22 Sheff Utd - they were poor last year, just a bit better than Sunderland
21 Fulham - Now Malbranque has thrown his toys out of the pram back to where they belong.
20 Reading - Coppell has never been able to do it in the top league
19 Wigan - Paul Jewll will find it tougher 2nd time around, especially now he has got Heskey instead of Roberts (SL 3 29 for a SL 5 16?)
18 Middlesbrough - on the wane and favourites next time

and the surprise package Aidy Boothroyd's might yellow army.....


(that's Watford in case you were unsure)

James

Bottom 5

18 Watford - Hornets gaffer Aidy Boothroyd I rate highly as a young boss and his key players will again be DF Jay DeMerit, MF Gavin Mahon, and FW Marlon King. Need to spend some money for transfer before end of month to have a chance.

19 Reading - Seol Ki-Hyeon is a decent player from clips I've seen, but will chairman Madejski allow boss Steve Coppell more cash to spend before month is out? Reading dominated the league last season so may do OK in their Premiership struggle.

20 Middlesburgh - Gareth Southgate is not a Premiership manager in my eyes. Julio Arca a decent buy in defence for under £2m, but they need far more to stay up.

21 Wigan - Paul Jewell faces the dreaded second-season syndrome. GK Chris Kirkland is good, but Emile Heskey is past his best. Going down.

22 Sheff Utd - wrath boss Neil Warnock will fire up his players, but are the player up to it? New arrivals David Sommeil, Rob Hulse & Claude Davis are good, but not world beaters.

Early days Brian, fear not!
I am sure Arsenal will win a game in Premiership eventually.

I don't think it will be as easy for Chelsea this season. Sure they'll do well but I reckon based on the Charity Shield performance and the fact that there ARE other clubs out there with the desire to regain top spot it could be a much closer run thing... I'm sure Mr Abromovich will be wanting to see a bigger European push this season?

1. Manchester United
2. Liverpool
3. Chelsea
4. Arsenal
5. Spurs

16. Reading (I like the way they play!)
17. Middlesbrough (On the downward spiral)
18. Watford (Battlers - hard to beat but that won't be enough)
19. Fulham
20. Sheffield Utd

As for my team, Newcastle, I'd be more tempted to put them in the bottom 5 BUT have the individuals which should really allow us to be challenging for the Top 5! I was sorely tempted to take the 50/1 on offer for us to be relegated!!!

I agree with Kev's comments - but Spurs seem to have the same mentality as the Toon - neither have that mean, winning side to their game!

I like the new Spurs home shirt Kev, is it on sale anywhere cheaper than the £40 the club shop sells it for?

jus had a quick scan around the net, can only find the spurs shirt for £39.99. Think i have found something for my mum to treat her only son with!

Hartson scored a couple on his debut, but none in his last 7 games.
Long season ahead though Gabs.

Update: Kenny Miller has played 15 games for Celtic and scored zero barrowload so far.
I guess some will be betting he opens his account at old firm game in 10 days time.

Arsenal starting to come good now.

What about the managers who said Liverpool would do well? What say you now?

DUU, HEA, ARB all said Liverpool to be 2nd.

If Gerald Hollier was getting these results, the fans would be up in arms.

PT and INV looking clever, but still early days.