Premier League Preview: Manchester City Remain Favourites But New Challengers Emerge

Arsenal's win over Manchester City in the Community Shield may not have been indicative of how the upcoming Premier League season will pan out but what it did was expose the frailties of a side which has won the league three years in a row. The side, which has flourished under manager Pep Guardiola, have lost in a seasoned veteran in the form of Ilkay Gundogan and his absence was felt throughout the game.  The new signing Mateo Kovacic and makeshift midfielder Julian Alvarez were not effective in the system and although the presence of a goal machine like Erling Haaland makes them a favourite on any given day, a number of new challengers have emerged for their title.

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Any transfer window is an exciting time for football fans but this one has been a bit special. Conservative spenders Arsenal went all out for England midfielder Declan Rice (105 million pounds) and with the addition of Jurrien Timber, Kai Havertz and David Raya, Mikel Arteta finally has a side that pushed City to the limit in the Community Shield game. Both Liverpool and Manchester United have also bolstered their teams to address some key issues. Liverpool added Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai to create a brand-new midfield while United went big for three key positions with keeper Andre Onana, midfielder Mason Mount and striker Rasmus Hojlund joining the ranks.

Arsenal finished second last season with Manchester United finishing just behind them but with the new additions, they will surely dream of finally bridging the gap between themselves and City. But, the bigger challenge lies in front of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool who found themselves in fifth position and without Champions League football, they may struggle to hold on to