With the Premier League season less than a week away, 32 Flags is breaking down the Premier League to give you a snap shot of each team. Today, we’ll be looking at the first 10, alphabetically. That’ll be Arsenal through Manchester United.
Arsenal
Manager:
Arsene Wenger
Most Influential Player:
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 02: Captain Mikel Arteta of Arsenal lifts the trophy after their 1-0 win in the FA Community Shield match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on August 2, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Alexis Sanchez
Last Season’s Finish:
3rd
Predicted Finish:
Champions League
Transfers In:
Petr Cech, GK, for £9.85m from Chelsea
Transfers Out:
Lukas Podolski, LW, for £1.76m to Galatasary
Ryo Miyaichi, LW, Free Transfer to FC St. Pauli
Abou Diaby, CM, Free Tansfer to Marseille
Yaya Sanogo, ST, On Loan to AFC Ajax
Wojciech Szczesny, GK, On Loan to AS Roma
Cark Jenkinson, RB, On Loan to West Ham United
Preview:
The 2014/15 season for Arsenal was fairly exciting, with 2nd a distinct possibility until the last day. This season, Arsenal will be looking to kick on and better last season’s showing by placing 2nd. Placing 3rd and a few good cup runs will be considered the minimum this season. They are possibly one of two players short of a genuine title charge, though the window is still open.
Aston Villa
Manager:
Tim Sherwood
Most Influential Player:
Ciaran Clark
Last Season’s Finish:
17th
Predicted Finish:
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – AUGUST 01: Jordan Amavi of Aston Villa in action during the Pre Season Friendly match between Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa at City Ground on August 1, 2015 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Relegation survivor
Transfers In:
Jordan Ayew, ST, for £8.43m from FC Lorient
Jordan Amavi, LB, for £7.73m from OGC Nice
Jordan Veretout, CM, for £6.96m from FC Nantes
Idrissa Gueye, CM, for £6.33m from LOSC Lille
Rudy Gestede, ST, for £5.97m from Blackburn
Scott Sinclair, LW, £2.46m from Manchester City
Jose Angel Crespo, RB, £.7m from Cordoba CF
Micah Richards, CB, Free Transfer from Manchester City
Transfers Out:
Christian Benteke, ST, for £32.5m to Liverpool
Fabian Delph, CM, for £8m to Manchester City
Andreas Weimann, ST, for £2.67m to Derby
Darren Bent, ST, Free Transfer to Derby
Shay Given, GK, Free Transfer to Stoke City
Ron Vlaar, CB, Released
Preview:
This season will be a tough one for Aston Villa. They were lucky to not be relegated last season and the appointment of Tim Sherwood revitalized them at the right time. This season will be much closer. They have sold two of their most important players in Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph. It will be up to the players they have brought in this summer to replace those two and keep Villa in the Premier League.
Bournemouth
Manager:
Eddie Howe
Most Influential Player:
Callum Wilson
Last Season’s Finish:
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – APRIL 27: Callum Wilson of Bournemouth celebrates with team mates as he scores their third goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between AFC Bournemouth and Bolton Wanderers at Goldsands Stadium on April 27, 2015 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
1st in Championship
Predicted Finish:
Relegation
Transfers In:
Tyrone Mings, LB, for £7.94m from Ipswich
Adam Federici, GK, Free Transfer from Reading
Sylvain Distin, CB, Free Transfer from Everton
Joshua King, LW, Free Transfer from Blackburn
Artur Boruc, GK, Free Transfer from Southampton
Christian Atsu, RW, On Loan from Chelsea FC
Transfers Out:
No Major Outgoing Transfers
Preview:
Bournemouth were the exciting team in the Championship last season and they will look to bring that brave style to the Premier League. They haven’t made a ton of new signings for this season, but this could also be to their benefit. The Premier League has often been unkind to Championship teams that try to play on the front foot after promotion, but Swansea and Southampton have succeeded in staying up. Bournemouth will look to be the next team to accomplish that.
Chelsea
Manager:
Jose Mourinho
Most Influential Player:
LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA – JULY 27: Cesc Fabregas of Chelsea in action during the Pre Season Friendly match between FC Olimpija Ljubljana and Chelsea at Stozice stadium in Ljubljana, Slovenia on Sunday, July 27, 2014. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)
Eden Hazard
Last Season’s Finish:
1st
Predicted Finish:
EPL Champs
Transfers In:
Asmir Begovic, GK, for £7.73m from Stoke
Radamel Falcao, ST, On Loan from Monaco
Transfers Out:
Filipe Luis, LB, for £11.25m to Atletico Madrid
Petr Cech, GK, for £9.85m to Arsenal
Thorgan Hazard, AM, for £5.62m to Borussia Monchengladbach
Gael Kakuta, LW, for £4.22m to Sevilla FC
Preview:
Chelsea will almost certainly be winning the Premier League this season. It’s that simple. They have amazing depth, great players in every position, and a top manager. This team is well drilled and able to grind out games when necessary. They’ve suffered defeat already in the Community Shield and will be looking to settle the score the rest of the season.
Crystal Palace
Manager:
Alan Pardew
Most Influential Player:
during a Pre Season Friendly between Fulham and Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage on August 1, 2015 in London, England.
Yohan Cabaye
Last Season’s Finish:
10th
Predicted Finish:
Midtable
Transfers In:
Yohan Cabaye, CM, for £9.77m from PSG
Connor Wickham, ST, for £7.03m from Sunderland
Alex McCarthy, GK, for £3.44m from QPR
Patrick Bamford, ST, On Loan from Chelsea
Transfers Out:
No Major Outgoing Transfers
Preview:
Crystal Palace’s 2014/15 Premier League campaign surprised many fans who expected the team to collapse after the departure of Tony Pulis. Under Pulis, they had been a defensive powerhouse, in the Pulisian style, and it became a firm foundation that new manager Alan Pardew would build on. The hiring of Pardew saw Crystal Palace become a bit more adventurous in attack and led them to a 10th place finish after an exciting run of form. They will hope to build on this, with Yohan Cabaye and Connor Wickham hoping to spark something special and Selhurst Park.
