Arsenal eye repeat after major Premier League managerial shake-up

LONDON, Aug 14 : Arsenal begin the defence of their Premier League title as one of the few clubs untouched by a close season of managerial upheaval that has transformed the landscape of English football.

While Mikel Arteta's methods are tested and trusted at Arsenal after nearly seven years at the helm, it is all change elsewhere with chief rivals Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea all entering new eras with a new man in charge.

In total, a record nine Premier League clubs will begin the season with a new permanent manager.

Whether the managerial merry-go-round eases the way for Arsenal to win back-to-back titles or sparks one of the most unpredictable seasons in years may prove the defining question.

ARSENAL MUST EVOLVE

For Arsenal, it is a case of "if it's not broken, don't fix it" as they seek to prove last season's first league title in 22 years was the start of something bigger.

Unless your name is Pep Guardiola, however, building a dynasty has proved difficult in the Premier League recently.

He made winning titles look routine with six in nine seasons, but the last manager to retain the Premier League crown before him was Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2009.

There was a sense that opponents had begun to suss out Arteta's tactics towards the end of last season and the Spaniard is only too aware that standing still is not an option.

Rather than sprint across the line in a blaze of glory, Arsenal ground through last season's title run-in.

It wasn't pretty, with their reliance on set-pieces and hard graft taking a toll on the likes of Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka who looked physically and mentally spent at the World Cup.

Staying ahead of Manchester City was all that mattered last season, though, for the tens of