ARSENAL — 6

ANOTHER season, another big-name star is heading out of the Emirates. I
believe the departure of Robin van Persie to Manchester United could spell
the end of the Gunners’ top-four hopes this campaign.

Mind you, even if Arsenal had made him see out the final year of his contract,
I don’t believe it would have done either party any good.

Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger has brought in Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and
Santi Cazorla.

But it is difficult to imagine any of those three will do as well as
big-scoring RVP.

ASTON VILLA — 17

VILLA avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth last season as they
finished 16th under Alex McLeish.

They will be hoping for a better season with new boss Paul Lambert, who had
done such a magnificent job at Norwich City in the previous three seasons.

He took them from the foot of League One to 12th in the Premier League last
season.

Expectations will be high at Villa Park but, with no big-name additions to the
squad, I can see them struggling again.

CHELSEA — 4

I’M not sure whether it was Chelsea’s Euro triumph or fifth-placed Prem finish
that made Roman Abramovich realise he needed to splash the cash again.

Fresh faces were definitely required but I feel the captures of Oscar, Eden
Hazard and Marko Marin are not enough to recapture their league crown.

And following the departures of Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and Jose
Bosingwa, Roberto Di Matteo’s men could even face a fight to finish in the
top four.

But their experience should just about see them through come next May.

EVERTON — 8

I WAS surprised to see Tim Cahill quit Goodison Park last month as I still
thought he had a couple of more years left in him at this level.

The good news is that by selling him to New York Red Bulls there is no chance
of the Aussie returning to haunt Everton this term.

The Toffees may have lost Cahill — but at least they still have boss David
Moyes after a summer when a couple of top jobs were available.

Moyes has pulled off a masterstroke by re-signing Steven Pienaar from Spurs.

FULHAM — 13

I AM getting quite worried about the Cottagers’ chances this term.

After allowing both Danny Murphy and Andrew Johnson to leave in the summer,
they then failed to nail a permanent swoop for Pavel Pogrebynak, who starred
on loan for them last season.

But I do like their signing of Hugo Rodallega following his departure from
Wigan.

And it is important that boss Martin Jol keeps hold of talisman Clint Dempsey
— or else Fulham could be in deep trouble.

LIVERPOOL — 5

A FEW eyebrows were raised when Brendan Rodgers replaced Kenny Dalglish as
Liverpool manager this summer.

But the genial Northern Irishman will have no trouble winning over the Kop if
he can get the players performing the same way he did at Swansea.

He has raided his old club for Team GB midfielder Joe Allen, who should give
Steven Gerrard a licence to bomb forward.

And the signing of Italian striker Fabio Borini will keep Andy Carroll and
Luis Suarez on their toes.

MAN CITY — 1

IT is difficult to see anybody stopping the champions from retaining the title
they won in such dramatic fashion in May.

They say the first league title is always the hardest to win.

Now City have done that, they can look to win it again, safe in the knowledge
they have what it takes to succeed.

They will still be on such a high after bagging their first Prem title and
giving rivals United a kicking to boot.

Boss Roberto Mancini has added only Jack Rodwell to his squad so far.

Missing out on Robin van Persie is a blow and seeing him going to United is
another big blow.

MAN UNITED — 2

ALEX FERGUSON will probably still be seething after City’s title success in
May.

The United boss has shown this week just how determined he is to win back the
Premier League crown.

Earlier in the summer he brought in last season’s Bundesliga Player of the
Year Shinjni Kagawa from Borussia Dortmund.

Then Fergie and his Red Devils really laid down a marker by leaving City in
their slipstream as they snapped up Robin van Persie for £22million from
Arsenal.

So the boss has done his buying — now RVP and Roo it’s over to you.

NEWCASTLE — 7

ALAN PARDEW exceeded all expectations last season by guiding the Toon to fifth.

And I believe he will show it was no fluke by making another assault on the
top six this time.

In Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba they have arguably the most naturally gifted and
dangerous strike partnership in the division. While Cheick Tiote is now a
target for several top teams.

Pardew has quietly added to his midfield with Romain Amaltiafano and Gael
Bigiri-mana.

If they are anywhere near as good as his recent signings then the rest of the
Prem had better watch out.

NORWICH — 16

THE loss of boss Paul Lambert to Aston Villa was bad news for Norwich.

The good news, though, is they managed to replace him with successful former
Birmingham manager Chris Hughton, who looks a ready-made fit for the
friendly Norfolk club.

And the best news of all is the new boss has managed to persuade star striker
Grant Holt (below) to ignore Villa’s advances and stay.

His goals will be crucial if the Canaries are to survive this term, which was
always going to be tougher than last as second-season syndrome kicks in.

QPR — 14

MARK HUGHES’ Hoops avoided the drop on the final day last season, despite
losing 3-2 at eventual champions Manchester City.

They will probably be looking over their shoulders again, although I expect
them to have their safety sewn up much earlier this time.

Sparky has made some decent signings in goalkeeper Robert Green from West Ham
and midfielders Ji-Sung Park and Samba Diakite Also, in Andrew Johnson, they
have an experienced striker to provide competition for Bobby Zamora and
Djibril Cisse.

READING — 12

THE ROYALS stormed to the Championship title last season and I believe that
momentum will see them finish the highest of all the newly-promoted clubs.

Boss Brian McDermott has the money to spend following the arrival of new
owners and he has already pulled off a minor transfer coup by snatching
Pavel Pogrebnyak from under Fulham’s noses.

The Russian striker impressed me when he spent the second half of last season
on loan with the Cottagers.

If he can continue in that superb goalscoring form, Reading will surely have
no trouble staying up.

SOUTHAMPTON — 20

NIGEL ADKINS has done a tremendous job getting Saints promoted from League One
to the Premier League in two successive seasons.

Having emulated Norwich’s path back into the top flight all eyes will be on
them to see if they can also avoid the drop, just like the Canaries managed.

I am looking forward to seeing how the likes of midfielder Adam Lallana and
free-scoring striker Rickie Lambert adapt to life at the highest level. But
I must admit I do fear this may be a step too far for the South Coast club.

STOKE — 9

TONY PULIS’ Potters finished 14th last season — despite a gruelling Europa
League run that undoubtedly affected their Prem placing.

With their Thursday nights free this term, I can see them sealing a spot in
the top 10.

It has been a relatively quiet summer at the Britannia with not many comings
or goings.

Ricardo Fuller and Jonathan Woodgate have been the only big names shown the
door, while Michael Kightly has arrived from Wolves.

And, if the winger can rediscover the form he showed before his bad luck with
injury, then Stoke should progress.

SUNDERLAND — 10

THE Black Cats had a rollercoaster campaign last season, as they began on a
low under Steve Bruce and soared in mid-season under Martin O’Neill before
dipping again in the run-in.

O’Neill will be looking for more consistency on Wearside. He has hardly
ventured into the transfer market this window, clearly believing he has the
players capable of improving on last season’s 13th place.

That should be within their grasp provided injuries do not decimate their
wafer-thin strikeforce.

SWANSEA — 18

THE Swans had an amazing first season in the Premier League as they
entertained and enthralled us with their Barcelona brand of football.

But the warning signs were there in the second half of the campaign as
opponents seemed to suss them out.

And I think the close-season departures of boss Brendan Rodgers and midfielder
Joe Allen and the failure to make Gylfi Sigurdsson’s loan permanent, will
hit them hard.

I predict a difficult season ahead under new manager Michael Laudrup — but at
least they should still be easy on the eye.

TOTTENHAM — 3

SPURS head into a new era at White Hart Lane under boss Andre Villas-Boas, who
will be relishing the chance to banish memories of his troubled short spell
in charge of Chelsea last season.

The north Londoners have made a couple of decent additions in former Swansea
midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jan Vertonghen.

If AVB can land the striker he is after and manage to keep Luka Modric out of
Real Madrid’s clutches then there is no reason why their new manager cannot
finish the season above his old club.

WEST BROM — 11

WE all know what a good coach Steve Clarke is — now we will get to see what a
good manager he is.

The former Chelsea and Liverpool No 2 took over at the Hawthorns in the summer
and will be hoping to carry on the good work of his predecessor Roy Hodgson.

The Baggies finished 10th last season and should end up there or thereabouts
again this time.

The only thing that concerns me is their lack of firepower.

Clarke will be hoping the loan of Chelsea’s Romelu Lakuku will help address
that problem.

WEST HAM — 15

THE HAMMERS are back in the top flight after their play-off final win over
Blackpool at Wembley in May.

Boss Sam Allardyce has made some solid signings in James Collins and Mohamed
Diame. Keeper Robert Green may have left for QPR but Big Sam has signed a
more than adequate replacement in Jussi Jaaskelainen.

I know some West Ham fans are sceptical about their chances but I reckon they
will survive due to their Prem pedigree and the fact there looks to be at
least three poorer teams.

WIGAN — 19

HOW Wigan are still in the Premier League, heaven only knows.

Chairman Dave Whelan and manager Roberto Martinez have performed miracles to
keep the little Lancashire club in the top flight.

They appeared doomed last term until an incredible end-of-season run lifted
them up the table.

But even Houdini could not win them all.

And with star men Hugo Rodallega and Mohamed Diame having departed, I fear the
Latics’ rollercoaster ride is about to come to an abrupt end.

OUR crack team of journalists talk you through every Premier League club’s
chances as the new season gets underway.

ASTON VILLA: by Graeme Bryce

PAUL LAMBERT’S sheer willpower and ability to inspire should see his new club
match the magnificent 12th place he achieved with Norwich last season.

That would restore some credibility, stability and avoid another nerve-racking
relegation battle for Aston Villa’s suffering supporters. After a grim year
they can expect to be entertained as Lambert’s style isn’t to sit back.
Strap yourself in for a season of spills and thrills Villans!

CHELSEA: by Shaun Custis

STRANGE but true, Roberto Di Matteo will take charge of his first competitive
game as official Chelsea boss at Wigan tomorrow.

This is the man who saved the Blues last season and put a fractured squad back
together with superb results.

He made them into FA Cup winners and European champions on an unforgettable
night in Munich.

But, even when Di Matteo delivered, he was left sweating on whether he would
get the job full time. And there is no boss under more pressure.

Owner Roman Abramovich has spent £64m on new players, the Brazilian playmaker
Oscar (£25m), Belgian ace Eden Hazard (£32m) and German midfielder Marko
Marin (£7m) and Di Matteo must deliver.

EVERTON: by Phil Thomas

IF they awarded trophies purely on the second half of the season, Everton
would be celebrating silverware.

It has become an unwanted tradition to get off to a poor start. But this time
there is belief that they can fly out of the blocks thanks to a kind fixture
list.

FULHAM: by Antony Kastrinakis

MARTIN JOL has kept a steady ship and more than lived up to expectations.

The probable departure of Clint Dempsey to Liverpool before the transfer
window shuts will be a massive blow for Fulham, who have already lost
veterans Danny Murphy and Andy Johnson.

Their squad is certainly good enough and mid-table safety is the minimum for
the Cottagers, who have not really been in danger of a relegation dogfight
at any time in the last four seasons.

LIVERPOOL: by Phil Thomas

ANOTHER new season, another wave of optimism on the red half of Merseyside.

Yet this time there is also a hefty dose of realism in there as well. New boss
Brendan Rodgers has been handed a job some were beginning to describe as a
poisoned chalice.

But fresh faces have arrived, adding a natural burst of enthusiasm and vigour
to the place.

Fabio Borini, the £10million Italian striker signed from Roma, and Joe Allen
has come in from Swansea.

Luis Suarez ended doubts about his future with a four-year deal while Lucas’
return to fitness gives them the holding midfielder they lacked last term.

While a serious assault on the title is way beyond them, Liverpool will
certainly be more competitive this time around. And it could be an enjoyable
ride.

MAN CITY: by Martin Blackburn

JUST when you thought it had been a quiet summer over at the Etihad…

The champions have taken everybody’s breath away in the last three close
seasons with their spending sprees.

Now, all of a sudden, here they were making headlines for keeping their wallet
firmly shut.

And, what’s more, boss Roberto Mancini was decidedly unhappy about it —
pointing the finger squarely at football administrator Brian Marwood.

Yet if there were any worries among City fans about the season ahead they were
surely blown away on Sunday.

They reminded everyone how strong they are as they flexed their muscles by
outplaying Champions League winners Chelsea in the Community Shield on the
way to a 3-2 win.

Not only that, they did it without a host of key stars like David Silva, Mario
Balotelli and Joe Hart.

And, later that night, the cheque book was dusted off as they agreed to pay
£15million for Everton’s England midfielder Jack Rodwell.

NEWCASTLE: by Steve Brenner

ALAN PARDEW could do no wrong after Newcastle’s brilliant season and goes into
the new campaign full of confidence.

Their brilliant push into fifth place and the Europa Cup defied even the
wildest expectations of the Toon Army. Owner Mike Ashley’s ploy to tie up
all his big stars on long-term deals is more than paying off.

The Magpies go into the season in a good place and it will tests Pards’ skills
to make sure they stay there.

NORWICH: by Charlie Wyett

CHRIS HUGHTON leads Norwich into a new era today knowing he has a tough act to
follow.

His predecessor Paul Lambert guided them to successive promotions and an
impressive 12th place last term.

Most bookies reckon the Canaries will be relegated this time. But boss Hughton
could be a decent, solid appointment.

He is highly rated by his fellow managers and will try to tighten a defence
that leaked too many goals.

Full-back Steven Whittaker has been brought in from Rangers and has been
joined by centre-back Michael Turner from Sunderland.

QPR: by Paul Jiggins

MARK HUGHES is banking on his Thirtysomethings to finish in the
Fortysomethings.

The QPR boss wants to avoid a repeat of last season’s flirtation with disaster.

So the Welshman turned to top-flight experience to get to 40 points earlier —
and stop his greying barnet from falling out.

England keeper Robert Green, 32, moved from West Ham.

The defence is boosted by the arrival of ex-Blackburn centre-back Ryan Nelsen,
34.

Hughes spent £5million on Ji-Sung Park, 31, from Manchester United. And Andrew
Johnson, 31, joined on a free from Fulham.

Rangers will undoubtedly miss Joey Barton on the pitch during his 12-match ban
for the red card and red mist at City. But they will not miss him off it.

The squad can think football rather than worry what he tweeted last night.

Or if he was arrested.

READING: by Charlie Wyett

READING hope to repeat what QPR, Swansea and Norwich did last season — stay up.

Boss Brian McDermott said he does not use the word “survive” in his SunSport
interview today.

And backed by an owner who has plenty of money, he will have a chance of
keeping the Royals up.

Russian tycoon Anton Zingarevic, educated at a private school near Reading,
has completed a £40million takeover.

And Zingarevic’s money could be a crucial factor if the club need a push in
the January window.

They’ve signed seven players this summer.

McDermott had bagged a couple of decent defenders in Adrian Mariappa from
Watford for £2.5million and Chris Gunter from Nottingham Forest for the same
fee.

He also signed Forest player-of-the-season Gareth McCleary and Pierce Sweeney
from Irish club Bray Wanderers. Also ex-Royals favourite Nicky Shorey is
back and Danny Guthrie was a good grab from Newcastle.

But the key man is Russia striker Pavel Pogrebnyak from Stuttgart.

SOUTHAMPTON: by Tony Little

FORMER physio Nigel Adkins will need all his healing powers just to keep
Saints in the Premier League.

Boss Adkins may have worked miracles by leading them to back-to-back
promotions — but it may not be enough to satisfy chairman Nicola Cortese.

Saints have been handed trips to Manchester City and Arsenal, as well as a
home game with Manchester United among their first four fixtures.

With Wigan’s visit to St Mary’s a week today offering the only ray of hope in
a daunting start they could be bottom of the pile after the opening month.

Focus will then switch to hard-to-please Cortese, the Swiss-born businessman
not renowned for patience as Adkins’ sacked predecessor Alan Pardew will
testify.

Not that Adkins can complain he has not been given boardroom backing.

He shelled out a club record £12million for midfielder Gaston Ramirez and £7m
for Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez. He has also signed full-back Nathaniel
Clyne from Crystal Palace.

STOKE: by Graeme Bryce

IT’S shaping up to be a season of transition for Stoke.

The challenge, as ever, for Tony Pulis is to make sure the Potters don’t spend
next summer in transit… between the Premier League and the Championship!

The Potters’ fifth season in the Premier League could turn out to be their
most critical ever.

With a bumper new £3billion TV deal due to kick in next season there couldn’t
be a worse time to miss out on a massive increase in revenue.

Some reports have suggested receiving a bigger slice of the TV money could
boost Stoke’s income by as much as 25 per cent next season.

That kind of windfall can put serious distance between the Potters and the
best of the rest outside of the Premier League for years to come.

The problem Pulis has is trimming down a bloated squad and replacing fringe
players with a few more first-pick players — Michael Owen is a target.

Much will depend on which rabbit Pulis pulls out of the hat before the end of
the window.

SUNDERLAND: by Steve Brenner

IT has not been much fun being a Sunderland fan this summer.

Pre-season results have been patchy at best. But, as Martin O’Neill would
rightly insist, warm-up games do not count for too much.

Yet what is really worrying the Mackems right now is the lack of new faces.

Carlos Cuellar has bolstered a defence, which has lost Michael Turner to
Norwich.

But it’s up front where the problems really lie.

OK, so Louis Saha has signed on a one-year deal and joins Fraizer Campbell as
the club’s senior strikers.

On their day, both are Premier League quality. Unfortunately, both are injury
prone too.

More top-flight experience is needed — badly.

It pains Wearside that more than 18 months on, Darren Bent still has not been
replaced.

SWANSEA: by Gareth Morgan

SWANSEA hope life after Brendan Rodgers will still be as rewarding.

Rodgers guided Swans to 11th in the Prem last season.

The burning question now is whether Michael Laudrup can build on that.

Their secret weapon was their passing style and the surprise factor. Laudrup
will need to activate Plan B. They may be direct.

They have lost Joe Allen and Gylfi Sigurdsson but signed Michu and Jonathan De
Guzman.

TOTTENHAM: by Paul Jiggins

KEEPING Spurs in the top four might not be as easy as 1-2-3 for AVB.

New Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas will be out to prove his critics wrong
after his ill-fated 256-day spell in charge of Chelsea last season.

AVB has already won over his new squad with his meticulous planning and
intense high-tempo training sessions.

But he currently has only TWO frontmen in Jermain Defoe and Harry Kane, who
has yet to play in the top flight.

Villas-Boas has said he is willing to welcome Real Madrid target Luka Modric
back into the fold.

And he may need the Croatian playmaker to unlock defences if he fails to go
out and strengthen his weak strike force.

WEST BROM: by Graeme Bryce

THE Baggies are big on stability. When Roy Hodgson answered his country’s call
it barely caused a ripple.

Hodgson’s safe pair of hands led Albion to a hugely impressive 10th finish
last season.

Few expect Steve Clarke in his first stab at management to repeat the feat. I
disagree. Albion’s summer signings have been bold and imaginative.

The Scot pulled off a coup in landing Chelsea’s £20million Belgian striker
Romelu Lukaku on loan. Nabbing Sweden international Markus Rosenberg from
Werder Bremen on a free was another smart move.

James Morrison and Chris Brunt are creative in midfield and Clarke has added
some Argentine beef in the shape of rugged midfielder Claudio Yacob.

Albion could be this season’s Newcastle.

WEST HAM: By STEVE BRENNER

IT didn’t come off but their pursuit of Liverpool’s £35million misfit Andy
Carroll showed how determined West Ham co-owners David Sullivan and David
Gold are to re-establish their club in the Prem.

It was obvious why boss Sam Allardyce wanted him — to get on the end of high
balls into the box. The writing on the wall is already clear — the football
is unlikely to be pretty and if it doesn’t result in a decent start there
will soon be trouble.

WIGAN: by Martin Blackburn

WE’VE been asking the same question since Wigan were promoted to the Premier
League in 2005.

How long can Latics keep defying the odds by staying up?

Plenty will write them off this time as well. But boss Roberto Martinez and
Wigan will not care one jot.

JOE ALLEN has revealed how a few words of encouragement from Gary Speed helped put him on the road to becoming a Kop idol.

The Liverpool new-boy is already one of the Premier League’s outstanding midfielders after only one season in the top flight at Swansea.

His rapid rise to fame was highlighted when former Swans boss Brendan Rodgers splashed out £15million to take the 22-year-old Welshman to Anfield.

This afternoon Allen is set to make his Reds debut as they kick-off their season at West Brom.

And he will never forget how tragic Speed boosted his confidence when the ex-Wales boss was the man to watch.

Allen said: “Gary was very influential and in the year before his tragic death he was massive for me.

“It’s always fantastic to hear those things. There’s not many people with his experience at this level, so to hear those things spoken by a man like that really encourages you.

“If there are times when there are any doubts, you think back to things like that to help pick yourself up.

“Gary was a great man who’s missed by everyone. He was a great football man.”

The whole of football was shocked into silence when Speed passed away last November, aged just 42.

Rodgers was in charge of Swansea that terrible day yet believes the tragedy helped Allen become the man he is.

The Anfield chief said: “Joe really grew from that and drew strength from it. He had big respect for Gary.”

p.thomas@the-sun.co.uk