Arsenal’s Title to Lose: Predictions for the New Season

The new season hasn’t even kicked off and the verdict in one corner of the press box is already brutal: this is Arsenal’s title to lose, and everyone else is scrambling in their wake.

Across a battery of pre-season predictions, one theme keeps crashing through – stability and smart recruitment at the Emirates against chaos and churn almost everywhere else.

Well, almost everywhere.

Title race: Arsenal’s to keep… unless United crash the party

Ask the panel who wins the league and the answers come back in red and white. Overwhelmingly.

Sarah Winterburn doesn’t bother with nuance. In her eyes, only “the unhinged” would look past Arsenal after a summer of continuity and the headline arrival of Bruno Guimaraes. She’s so convinced, she’s calling a gap of at least 10 points.

Matt Stead simply declares: “Phase five is upon us.” Ian Watson points to “too much uncertainty around everyone else.” Jason Soutar admits he had a nagging hunch about Chelsea last year and it blew up in his face, so this time he sticks with the grown‑ups and goes Arsenal. Lewis Oldham sees a squad both stronger and calmer than the chasing pack. Michael Lee spent the summer trying to talk himself out of backing them, only to be “humbled” by the Community Shield and the mess around their rivals. Nestor Watach thinks the neurosis is gone and compares the landscape to the early Pep Guardiola years at Manchester City. Samuel Bannister likens Arsenal to PSG finally cracking the Champions League: once they got their trophy, they learned how to keep it. For him, Guimaraes is exactly the kind of signing that retains titles.

And yet there is one loud dissenting voice.

John Nicholson goes the other way entirely. He’s on Manchester United. Not as a wild punt, he insists, but as a logical extension of last season under Michael Carrick, when he argues United were the league’s best side over that spell. “Them’s the facts,” he snaps.

Everyone else? A distant noise in the rear-view mirror.

The rest of the top four: chaos, shrugs and Chelsea everywhere

Predicting the rest of the Champions League spots is usually hard. This year, it borders on impossible.

Winterburn wants the question changed to a top five, then gives Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City behind Arsenal, with Manchester United fifth as a free extra. Stead goes for “Cobham Current Gen” – Chelsea’s academy-fuelled reboot – then City and Liverpool. Nicholson has Chelsea second, City third and Aston Villa sneaking in.

Dave Tickner practically throws his hands in the air. He calls it “infamously impossible” this season, then still lands on Chelsea, Liverpool and City in some order, stressing he has “almost zero confidence” in any of it.

Ian Watson openly admits he hasn’t got a clue. Pressed, he says City, Chelsea and Tottenham, then invites you to ask again in ten minutes for a different answer. Soutar also sees Chelsea in second, with City and Spurs completing his four.

Oldham expects City to miss out on the title by a similar margin to last season, Chelsea to benefit from no European football “like Manchester United did”, and Liverpool to edge United for fourth. Lee shares the Chelsea–City–Liverpool trio and can imagine Spurs sneaking in if the wind blows kindly.

Watach goes City, Liverpool, United and parks Chelsea in fifth, expecting that to be enough for the Champions League. Bannister flips it slightly: Liverpool, City, Chelsea. He thinks Alexander Isak under Andoni Iraola will raise Liverpool’s level, that City will live with “question marks” after the Pep era but still carry momentum, and that a Europe-free Chelsea will exploit the clear midweek calendar.

The one constant: nobody trusts anyone fully.

Relegation: promoted trio under fire, Fulham and Palace on the edge

At the bottom, the knives are out for the new arrivals.

Winterburn tips Ipswich, Coventry and Hull to go straight back down, even if she admits Fulham and Crystal Palace make her uneasy. Stead also sends Hull and Coventry down, but has Ipswich surviving thanks to a “Leeds Protocol” of signing a raft of six-footers; Sunderland, he says, get “xG’d” into trouble instead.

Nicholson also has Hull, then throws in Newcastle and Palace, both collapsing under new managers. Tickner doesn’t overcomplicate it: all three promoted clubs. No Sunderland, no Leeds-style shock survivors this time. Just “Burnleys”.

Watson agrees: Ipswich, Hull, Coventry. Soutar fears for Fulham, calls Ipswich “rubbish” and Hull “proper rubbish” and consigns all three to the drop.

Oldham is certain Hull and Ipswich are doomed, but believes Coventry’s momentum under Frank Lampard will keep them up and instead pushes Fulham into 18th. Lee goes for Sunderland, Coventry and Hull, arguing Ipswich have recruited smartly and Sunderland will be dragged off course by Europe after overachieving.

Watach again sees the promoted trio going straight back down, calling it a grim return to an emerging norm. Bannister is on the same line – Ipswich, Hull, Coventry – with Coventry giving it the best go but still falling short. Palace, he adds, are his pick of the existing clubs most likely to flirt with danger.

The message is blunt: life back in the big time will be brutal.

Pleasant surprises: Leeds hype, Newcastle revival and a Chelsea surge

Talk of “pleasant surprises” feels almost nostalgic in this era of tribal fury, but the panel play along.

Winterburn, a Huddersfield fan, doesn’t find it pleasant personally, yet still thinks Leeds have bought well enough to push into the top eight. Stead sees Bournemouth and Palace both finishing in the top half. Nicholson goes harder: Leeds to finish sixth on the back of upgrades in goal, defence, midfield and attack.

Tickner questions whether “pleasant” can even exist any more, suggesting the only true joy comes when Spurs or United are “alarmingly and hilariously sh*te”. In the spirit of the question, though, he singles out Palace as a candidate to be absolutely fine after being heavily feared, and even floats Chelsea as genuine title contenders – though that, he says, is neither pleasant nor especially surprising given their spending and lack of Europe.

Watson thinks Leeds will be surprising if not exactly lovable. Soutar has Chelsea as a shock top-two side but prefers Coventry’s story, predicting a buoyant 15th-place finish. Oldham also expects Coventry to survive, but his main pick is Leeds sneaking into the top ten.

Lee fancies Forest to rediscover European football. Watach is bullish on Leeds again, pointing to a strong second half of last season and a summer that appears to have significantly improved Daniel Farke’s squad. A push for the Conference League, he says, is not out of the question.

Bannister looks to Newcastle. They “can’t be as underwhelming as last season,” he argues, and despite the negativity around departures, he likes the look of the young replacements and sees them climbing back into the top half.

Golden Boot: Haaland and then daylight

On one question, there is almost no debate.

Erling Haaland is the Golden Boot pick across the board. Winterburn, Stead, Nicholson, Watson, Soutar, Oldham, Lee, Watach, Bannister – they all go for the Norwegian. Some barely bother to justify it. “Daft question,” says Winterburn. “Silly,” says Stead. “Who else?” asks Soutar. Watach points out he has three in four seasons since arriving and no other Premier League striker is in his “stratosphere”.

The only nuance is in the race for second. Winterburn and Oldham both fancy Isak to run him closest. Nicholson thinks Benjamin Sesko will be the nearest challenger. Tickner, who dubs Haaland the “Goalbot 3000”, expects him to have the usual 12 in nine games start and finish near 30 again, but looks elsewhere for betting value, floating Matheus Cunha and Cody Gakpo as long-shot each-way punts.

Everyone knows the script. The only question is how many he scores.

Best new signing: Leeds’ new spine, Bruno at Arsenal and a Brentford upgrade

When it comes to transformative signings, Leeds and Arsenal dominate the conversation.

Watson and several others are convinced James Trafford will change everything at Elland Road. Watson simply says he will make “a huge difference” by not being “dicey as f***”. Oldham calls him a “colossal upgrade” who could end the season as England’s No.1. Bannister accepts Leeds might have overpaid but still sees Trafford as the secure platform they’ve been craving.

Soutar refuses to separate Leeds’ early business, picking Trafford, Harry Wilson and Tarik Muharemovic collectively. Stead also highlights Trafford by definition – Leeds’ new No.1 as a season-defining piece.

Watach raves about Muharemovic, the Bosnia international centre-back who has impressed in pre-season and looks, in his view, capable of taking Leeds to another level and earning Champions League links within a year.

At the top end, Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal is a recurring theme. Winterburn sees him as a key part of their strengthening. Watson goes further, believing he will be “great for Arsenal” and unlock more creativity in the champions’ midfield.

There are other nods. Winterburn calls Mamadou Sangare a “massive upgrade” on Jordan Henderson at Brentford. Stead likes Jeremy Jacquet as a huge step up on whatever Ibrahima Konate has become. Nicholson feels Morgan Rogers is exactly the profile Chelsea need right now. Tickner, still high on the Community Shield, plumps for Christos Tzolis at Arsenal. Lee thinks United will regret not paying up for Mateus Fernandes.

But the clearest consensus? Leeds finally have a goalkeeper they trust, and Arsenal have added another elite midfielder to an already title-winning core.

Biggest flop: City’s £116m gamble under fire

To be a true flop, you have to cost serious money. On that front, one name keeps getting hammered.

Elliot Anderson.

Winterburn is blunt: he’s a runner and a worker, but “that’s not enough at Manchester City’s level” for such a “frankly ridiculous” fee. Tickner calls him the most glaring of the “many, many eye-watering overspends” in midfield. Lee labels £116m “extortionate” and questions his timing in joining City now. Bannister fears the price tag will define him and doubts he’ll convince anyone he was worth it.

Nicholson leans into Tottenham’s long tradition of expensive disappointments and nominates Sandro Tonali. Watson flags concerns for Alejandro Garnacho and worries about Morgan Rogers living up to his fee. Soutar brands Ronald Araujo “bobbins” and also has doubts over Victor Munoz at Liverpool. Oldham thinks £50m on Andrey Santos is “A LOT”.

In a market this inflated, someone is going to be hung with the “massive flop” label. The panel’s money is on Anderson leading that unhappy race.

Best bargain: Tielemans, Wilson and a cut‑price Hackney

At the other end of the spectrum, the bargain hunters get busy.

Winterburn and Bannister both circle Youri Tielemans at £35m as a steal. Bannister wonders if the lack of resale value for Manchester United affects whether it counts as a true bargain, but still calls it shrewd.

Leeds come roaring back into view. Stead predicts free transfer Harry Wilson will keep the club’s proud tradition of no‑fee signings hitting double figures for goals. Nicholson calls Wilson “great business” and a perfect fit. Tickner admits free transfers feel like cheating in this category but still insists Wilson qualifies, especially after Leeds wanted him for a fee last year. Watson also puts Wilson in the freebie bracket alongside Xaver Schlager. Soutar joins in, naming Wilson and offering honourable mentions to Tzolis and Marcos Senesi. Lee even says Trafford, despite being Leeds’ record signing, will save them so many points he effectively becomes a bargain.

Elsewhere, Oldham picks Christian Norgaard as an excellent bit of work by Everton after his stellar season at Brentford. Watach highlights Hayden Hackney at an initial £16m as “crazily low” in a summer where lesser players have gone for double. Bannister is tempted again by Tzolis at Arsenal, arguing that worse wingers have moved for more than £34m.

If the top end of the market looks unhinged, there are still pockets of sanity – and Leeds, once again, seem to be right in the middle of them.

PFA Player of the Year: Rice, Bruno G and the inevitable Haaland case

Trying to pick the PFA Player of the Year has become a mug’s game. Bruno Fernandes wasn’t exactly a pre-season favourite last year.

Still, the panel commit.

Winterburn goes for Bruno Guimaraes, believing he can add a new creative dimension to the champions. Oldham uses the simplest logic: the award usually goes to a player from the title winners, so he also lands on Guimaraes after his strong World Cup and fit alongside Declan Rice.

Rice himself gets heavy backing. Tickner argues that a deeper, better-stocked Arsenal midfield will let him play fewer games but have a bigger overall impact, especially after he ended the World Cup looking like “football’s weariest human”. Watson also picks Rice – assuming he’s actually had a holiday. Watach thinks Arsenal may again lack one obvious standout, but still sees Rice as capable of grabbing the headlines.

Soutar and Lee both opt for David Raya between the posts. Nicholson is bullish on Anderson again, tipping him for the main award with Brian Madjo as Young Player. Bannister simply doubles down on his Golden Boot pick – if Haaland scores a “bucketload”, he says, the PFA gong should follow.

The tension is clear: Arsenal’s midfield stars versus the Premier League’s most ruthless goalscorer.

First manager out: Arbeloa, Jakirovic and the Fulham fear

This is where the knives really come out.

Alvaro Arbeloa’s appointment at Fulham sets off alarm bells. Winterburn says it “just doesn’t feel quite right” and makes him her first-out pick. Watson shares the same concern and again goes Arbeloa, even joking that the Spaniard can thank him when he eventually gets a statue. Oldham also expects a poor start to cost him.

Hull’s Sergej Jakirovic is another popular fall guy. Nicholson names him. Lee does too, and gleefully anticipates Hull’s owner becoming a “Main Character” by sparking Greece–Turkey beef with Nottingham Forest’s Evangelos Marinakis. Watach likens Jakirovic to a disposable horror-film extra and doubts the owner’s patience.

Tickner, playing the percentages, goes for Oliver Glasner at Forest, citing Marinakis’ trigger finger and the club’s habit of changing managers more than anyone else. Bannister worries about Regis Le Bris at Sunderland, warning that overachieving in year one might accelerate expectations and make him vulnerable to “second season syndrome”.

Stead throws David Moyes into the mix. Soutar simply writes off “the bloke from Hull” as doomed. Watson also flags Matthias Jaissle at Newcastle and a “Diet Pep” at City as names who could find themselves under early pressure, even if he doesn’t ultimately pick them.

With so many new faces on Premier League touchlines, someone is going to be sacrificed quickly. This panel sees Fulham and Hull as the most combustible combinations.

Champions League: Barcelona rebuilt, PSG’s three‑peat and Arsenal’s final step

Europe’s big prize splits opinion almost as much as the domestic title.

Winterburn and Watach both land on Barcelona, convinced Rodri is the missing piece to give them the total control that powered Spain at the World Cup. Lee agrees, but only if Barça sign a proper centre-back to play alongside Pau Cubarsi; otherwise he leans back towards PSG.

Nicholson makes PSG his favourites again but admits it would be “great” if Como somehow went all the way. Bannister is all-in on a PSG three‑peat, arguing they’ve finally worked out how to manage themselves for the big European nights.

Watson keeps faith with Real Madrid. Soutar and Tickner, though, both see the logic pointing at Arsenal. Tickner notes their Champions League trajectory – quarter‑final, semi‑final, runners-up – and says there is “only one way” that story can end. He even tips them for a Premier League–Champions League double, branding anything less “Fraud McBottlejobs”. Soutar echoes the same step‑by‑step “science” and has them lifting the trophy in 2027.

Oldham wants it to be Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid but ultimately sides with PSG as simply too strong.

For all the noise, one thread runs through: Arsenal are no longer just a domestic story. Their ceiling is Europe now.

Five words of pure anticipation

And when the predictions are done, when the tables and trophies and sackings have all been argued over, what excites them most?

• Winterburn: “So very many new managers.”
• Stead: “An offside penis; not Richarlison.”
• Nicholson: “Montrose In Scottish League One.”
• Tickner: “Neverending moral panic about corners.”
• Watson: “Tottenham Hotspur making Tickers smile.”
• Soutar: “Keys and Gray’s podcast returning.”
• Oldham: “Rotherham United maybe winning more.”
• Lee: “No VAR in the Championship.”
• Watach: “New managers; uncertainty, unpredictability, chaos.”

Titles, relegations, sackings, bargains, flops. It all starts as guesswork. The only certainty is that, by May, half of this will look ridiculous – and that’s exactly why nobody can look away.