Premier League contenders and pretenders:
ARSENAL: Goalkeeper Petr Cech’s arrival from London rival Chelsea significantly bolsters the strength of Arsenal’s defence. Finally, it has a backline potentially as stubborn as its attacking trio of Alexis Sanchez, Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott is flamboyant. The Gunners could challenge for the title. ASTON VILLA: Despite avoiding relegation last season, Villa’s two best players, Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph, left in the off-season. Anything other than a battle to retain Premier League status appears unlikely. BOURNEMOUTH: For the first time in its 116-year history, Bournemouth made England’s top flight after winning the second tier last season. A relegation favourite, but neutrals would love to see the club stay up. CHELSEA: Last season’s Premier League winner has added Radamel Falcao on loan from Monaco, despite the Colombian striker faltering at rival Manchester United last year. Nothing less than more domestic success will suffice for Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea. CRYSTAL PALACE: Galvanized since the appointment of Alan Pardew as manager in January. Yohan Cabaye’s arrival from Paris Saint-Germain is a coup and makes an improvement on last season’s finish a realistic aim. EVERTON: Roberto Martinez’s first two campaigns as Everton manager are poles apart. Last season’s finish of 11th was underwhelming after narrowly missing the Champions League the year before. Striker Romelu Lukaku struggled last season but can transform Everton if he hits top form again. LEICESTER: Esteban Cambiasso, key to Leicester’s Premier League survival last season, has left. New manager Claudio Ranieri has yet to find a successor in midfield. LIVERPOOL: Liverpool failed to qualify for the Champions League this season, with its campaign derailed by injuries to Daniel Sturridge. But Christian Benteke’s arrival lessens the club’s dependence on him and the striker is one of six signings by Brendan Rodgers, who must mastermind a return to the top four. MANCHESTER CITY: After surrendering the Premier League to Chelsea, Man City signed Raheem Sterling from Liverpool for $76 million to improve its hopes of reclaiming the title. City will need him to hit form swiftly, but striker Sergio Aguero’s fitness is essential. MANCHESTER UNITED: A Champions League return made Louis van Gaal’s first season successful but United was often rescued by goalkeeper David de Gea. Despite reports that a Real Madrid transfer is impending, the keeper remains. Wayne Rooney’s importance as captain will rise even more if de Gea does depart. NEWCASTLE: Signings of midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum and striker Aleksandar Mitrovic could make a top-10 finish possible. NORWICH: Premier League survival will be the first priority for Norwich. Manager Alex Neil has largely kept last year’s team together, so Lewis Grabban and Cameron Jerome must score enough to keep them in the division. SOUTHAMPTON: A highest-ever Premier League finish of seventh last season means Southampton must now balance Europa League soccer alongside the domestic campaign. The club has a thin squad and proudly relies on promoting academy players. STOKE: Another team with its top Premier League finish last season — ninth — Stoke can expect another season of progress following eight astute signings. Ibrahim Afellay is the most notable addition from Barcelona. SUNDERLAND: Dick Advocaat guided Sunderland away from the relegation zone after arriving with nine games of last season remaining. The Dutchman has agreed to stay on for an entire campaign and has the soccer smarts to improve Sunderland’s fortunes. Jermain Defoe will lead Advocaat’s attack. SWANSEA: Garry Monk guided Swansea to a very respectable eighth last season but will struggle to improve on that finish, which was its best in England’s elite league. Bafetimbi Gomis is a decent striker but is not as clinical as Wilfried Bony, whom the club sold to Manchester City in January. TOTTENHAM: Harry Kane fired in 31 goals last season in all competitions as Tottenham finished fifth. If the striker can replicate that form, Mauricio Pochettino’s side could challenge for a Champions League qualification place. WATFORD: After earning promotion to the Premier League, Watford took the strange step of parting company with its manager, Slavisa Jokanovic. Quique Sanchez Flores, a 2011 Europa League winner with Atletico, is now at the helm and has made 10 signings. WEST BROMWICH ALBION: Striker Saido Berahino will look to score regularly after netting an impressive 14 goals in the Premier League last season. He will be partnered in attack by Rickie Lambert, who has joined from Liverpool. WEST HAM: Former West Ham defender Slaven Bilic is back at the club as manager. This will be West Ham’s last season at Upton Park before moving to the Olympic Stadium. Goals from Diafra Sakho are key.