Who'll be United's main foes next season?
Throughout last season there were two teams that mounted a “serious” challenge in the title race. Although it did eventually turn out that the challenge wasn’t all that serious since Manchester United still finished 9 points ahead of 2nd placed Chelsea.
Arsenal did eventually finish 4th but they were the apparent main contenders for most weeks of the season only to wilt away at the end. So what will become of these two teams next season? Will they be able to mount a challenge again?
Arsenal
I start with Arsenal because they were going for the quadruple. We all know the story of how Arsenal’s title challenge ended. In their last 6 games of the Premiership season they only managed to win 5 points putting them 17th in the form table. Only Bolton and the two relegated sides, West Ham and Birmingham had done worse.
Will they be able to mount a challenge again next season? Honestly I’m more inclined to think not. With Gael Clichy expected to leave for Liverpool or maybe a foreign side they stand to lose a pretty good left back. Kieron Gibbs is Arsenal’s only back up for this position however he has been proven to be very injury prone over the seasons. Only 2 days ago he pulled out of the England U21’s team.
As for their midfield, it is seeming more and more likelier that Arsenal will lose Samir Nasri to Manchester United. With one year left on his contract, Arsenal will need to sell this summer or risk losing him on a free transfer next summer. Personally I would accept this move, he is a quality player and was one of Arsenal’s stand out performers this season. I really doubt there are many players out there that are available for Arsenal to replace Samir Nasri like for like.
My next point is Cesc Fabregas. He has been having this love affair with Barcelona for years and wants to move back to his childhood club. It is thought that he will finally leave this summer, however with Barcelona coming out saying that they only have a £40million transfer budget this summer, maybe Barcelona will have to wait another season to get their man.
If Arsenal do however lose all three of these players, there isn’t much quality out there ready to be bought in to replace each of these players like for like. All three of these players have been the mainstay of the Arsenal team over the past few seasons. Could Arsenal really afford to lose such players? With most of the teams around Arsenal getting stronger with proven players it is hard to see Arsenal staying in the top 4 without these three players.
Chelsea
The future is uncertain for Chelsea as they do not yet have a manager. They could be hard pressed to replace Carlo Ancelotti however it seems that the man to do the job will be Guus Hiddink. Guus Hiddink did do well in his last spell in charge of Chelsea winning the FA Cup before returning to manager the Russian national team.
It has been widely thought that Roman Abramovich does not want to spend big sums of money at Chelsea this summer having shelled out £75million on both Fernando Torres and David Luiz in January but I can forsee one or two new signings to strengthen their squad.
It does not look like there will be widespread changes at Stamford Bridge and so I concliude that Chelsea will definitely still be up there, most probably challenging Manchester United for the title next season.
In conclusion
The top of the Premiership table has become so much more competetive over the past 2 seasons. If Arsenal do lose 3 of their key players without buying like for like replacements I really feel that they could miss out on a top 4 place. Chelsea on the other hand, although their ageing squad is a year older, still possess some high quality players and I’d expect them to be challenging for the title. Although it is still too early to tell, the way that the current transfer window is going leads me to believe that this is how the season will pan out for our closest challengers from last season.
Do you think I have gone slightly over the top in my predictions? Please feel free to comment below
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good article but nothing new .. we know arsenal could lose 2 players but certainly they will bring in replacements but yes they will fall away coz they lack the galls to take them to the podium .. chelsea may get wily old hiddink and will get in some reinforcements ..am thinking abt pool … they might be a force next season
You seem to have forgotten the “other half” of Manchester and a resurgent Liverpool. If Arsenal and Chelsea strengthen rather than lose players, it’s quite feasible that United could miss out on a top four slot.
lol at you focusing on chelsea and arsenal when the other side (only side) of manchester finished on the same amount of points as second placed chelsea, city will be your biggest challengers next year!
you went way over the top, because transfer window has just opened and there are more than 2 months to go
Chelsea :
1. with them you never know what they are going to do in transfers, but one thing is for sure they would spend with chances of kevin de byrune,Neymar and Lukaku touted as possible signings
2. With Hiddink they would have one of the best managers in the world, you can’t expect them to have a long slump in form like they had in the season gone by.
3. Their players would desperately want to win back the title from Manu
Arsenal:
1.They would be even more hungrier than ever
2.They are definitely going to improve their defence ( which was the reason they failed miserably towards the business end) with Samba and Cahill mention as their transfer tagets.
3. Clichy was a liability for them and there are definitely better LBs available right now in the form of Enrique,Baines etc. whether they buy anyone of them is a different story and Gibbs is no mug either
4. Cesc was not at his best last season, injured for many games,disinterested in others he had a poor season for them still they mounted a challenge, if they get to sell him that would be for good money and they would definitely buy some good one to replace him.
5. They would never sell nasri to Manu or to any other EPL teamand rumours of Hazard arriving are gaining pace he would match Nasri
Mancity:
1. Going to buy buy buy and buy and that too quality ones
2. can attract better players now that they are in champions league
3. Mancini knows how to win titles which he had already done in abundance an Italy, we cant judge him from just one full season
Liverpool
1. Kenny Dalglish – the spirit seems to be back
2. Squad is definitely improved, already signed Henderson and few more to come
3. would want to catch the magic number 19.
Considering all these I really feel that your prediction is too early, over confident and naive
Good read mate, anyone who seriously considers the scousers as challegers for the title next year is deluded. Apparently Jordan Henderson has improved the overall level of players they have at the club, need I say more? If Chelsea get Hiddink then it’s a two horse race, no matter who city sign Mancini is not a good enough manger to win a league title in England n they’ll drop off once again. Arsenal will do well to get in the top 4!