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Will Arsenal's transfers help them retain the Premier League title? (1:19)
It feels like just yesterday that Arsenal were lifting the Premier League trophy, ending their 22-year drought. Since then, we had a memorable World Cup (for both good and bad reasons), along with a ton of transactions from PL clubs as they continue to flex their financial might.
This upcoming season could be chock-full of excitement. For one, only Arsenal within the traditional Big Six have the same coach/manager they had to begin last season, Mikel Arteta. Chelsea (Xabi Alonso), Manchester City (Enzo Maresca), and Liverpool (Andoni Iraola) all have new faces in the dugout, while Manchester United (Michael Carrick) and Tottenham Hotspur (Roberto De Zerbi) are sticking with the guys they hired during the campaign.
Of course, it's not just the new managers who might hold the keys to how their team will fare when the new season kicks off Aug. 21. Let's preview the entire Premier League by picking out the individuals who, for better or worse, could define their team's season.
(NOTE: Teams are listed in order of their finish in 2025-26 from first to 17th, with the three promoted teams at bottom.)
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Arsenal: Ben White
One of the enduring images from Arsenal players collecting their Premier League winners' medal at Selhurst Park was Ben White walking with a heavy knee brace, having sustained a medial collateral ligament injury in May versus West Ham. It had been a rough couple of injury-filled seasons for White, starting in only 22 league matches.
It feels like forever ago, but in 2023-24, White was one of the best fullbacks out there. He was in many ways Arsenal's Swiss Army knife, ably performing in a number of roles. He could tuck inside for long stretches in some matches, while making overlapping runs in others to complement Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard on the right flank as the core of the team's attack. White was able to tailor his game to meet the needs Arsenal had at the moment.
Arsenal are looking to repeat as Premier League champions, something they've not done since the 1930s. With notable injuries to the likes of William Saliba and Jurriën Timber, both of whom won't be fit until well into the new season, there are minutes up for grabs. If White can find a way to be consistently healthy, it would be a massive boost for the North London club.
Manchester City: Enzo Maresca
You never want to be the guy who has to replace The Guy. Not only does Enzo Maresca have the unenviable task of replacing the best coach in Manchester City's history, but the guy who arguably shaped modern tactics into what they are today. While the move seemed telegraphed for a while in part due to Maresca's time with Pep Guardiola as an assistant in the 2022-23 season, it doesn't make it any easier.
Maresca's résumé to this point perhaps doesn't scream of someone you'd expect to take over at such a high-profile spot. He did help lead Leicester City to win the Championship in 2024 in his lone season there, although they were seen as the preseason favorites. There were times during his Chelsea tenure when he had difficulty balancing out the success of playing end-to-end football with establishing control in matches for the long-term health of the club. However, he was doing it with a very young squad, which should be accounted for.
Enzo Maresca has a huge task ahead when it comes to replacing Pep Guardiola, and how well he fares will go a long way to determining Man City's fate this season and beyond.
What will be interesting is how Maresca continues to adapt to the current climate of heavy man-to-man marking out of possession structures, and needing to win one-on-one duels across the pitch. The old style of heavy territorial dominance from elite clubs has waned, and now they're having to find new ways of creating dynamic situations. He'll get to figure this out while having some of the largest resources at his disposal, but time will tell whether or not it works.
Manchester United: Benjamin Šeško
The last time a Manchester United player scored 20 or more non-penalty goals in a league season was when Robin van Persie did it in 2012-13; coincidentally, it was also the last time Manchester United won the Premier League. Elite goal scoring has been a constant problem ever since Van Persie exited his prime, despite the club spending big on forwards and wingers in the years since then.
When Man United signed Šeško last summer, it was the club's latest attempt to finally find that elusive long-term starting striker. They were gambling that the tools he possesses (straight-line speed, power generated on shots) would win out over time and he could become a dependable goal scorer.
Most would conclude that Year 1 was at least a minor success. A non-penalty expected goal per 90 rate of 0.51 at a shot rate of 3.36 are strong indicators of performance, with both metrics landing in the 90th or higher percentile among forwards within the Big Five leagues. Šeško's physical advantages started to come to the fore as the season progressed, and the added weight put on in the offseason could help him improve even more in the box.
Year 2 will see how he can handle the added workload of Champions League football as what looks to be the undisputed starter.
Aston Villa: Emiliano Martínez
One of the under-the-radar storylines last season was the wide gap between Aston Villa's output and underlying talent. Their goal differential of plus-7 was a stark contrast to their expected goal differential of minus-5.7. Teams Lab's expected-point model had them 13th, a far cry from their fourth-place showing. Hot finishing was the key driver of this, with them placing fourth in conversion rate and second only to Tottenham for the biggest positive swing between their non-penalty goals and expected goals.
Another factor: Emiliano Martínez had a good shot-stopping season. He ranked seventh in total goals prevented at 3.1 and while his numbers over the years have run hot and cold, he has produced some major moments as a goalkeeper to help bolster his reputation. The ultimate example was him saving Argentina's hopes in the 2022 World Cup final with the famous toe save on Randal Kolo Muani. Aston Villa continuing to outpace the models will require Martínez to maintain his strong run of form.
Liverpool: Andoni Iraola
According to Pranav's Playerprint app, Rogers is in the 70th percentile for progressive carries and 85th percentile for carries into the box among attacking midfielders in the Big Five leagues.