With so many changes having happened over the last few months, many would think that Arsenal have the 2026/27 English Premier League sown up already, especially after they decimated Manchester City in the curtain raiser on Sunday, winning the Community Shield 3-0 against City at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Pep Guardiola's departure at the end of last season seams to have left former under-study, Enzo Maresca with some mighty shoes to fill. During his tenure as the City boss, Guardiola bagged 6 Premier League titles, 5 Carabao Cups, 3 FA Cups, 3 Community Shields, 1 Champions League, 1 Super Cup and a Club World Cup title.
That's 20 trophies in 10 years! Not to mention 115 charges........oh wait - let's not go there now!
City looked devoid of Pep's magic on Sunday with Arsenal needing just 25 seconds - the fastest goal in Community Shield history - to open the scoring when Myles Lewis-Skelly fed Ricardo Calafiori with a sublime throughball.
Captain Martin Odegaard's brilliant cross to the far edge of the area was met by new signing Christos Tzolis and the Greek headed back across goal for Kai Havertz to awkwardly head past Gianluigi Donnarumma to make it 2-0 after 27 minutes.
https://youtu.be/IsMhKcBLVDs
Tzolis was again the provider early in the second half with a grass-cutter into the area which Odegaard picked up, faked a shot to leave the City goalkeeper laying on the floor like a tired hiker and then popping the ball into an empty net to seal the deal.
But does this result mean Arsenal are going to stroll to their first back-to-back Premier League title? Don't bet on it.
Manchester United have quietly gone about there business. Michael Carrick has been made permanent - although we know what happened to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when he penned a full-time contract! Carrick has brought in Andrey Santos from Chelsea, Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa and signed veteran keeper Karl Darlow from Leeds United.
However, Casemiro and Jadon Sancho departed after their contracts expired while Rasmus Hojland made his move to Napoli permanent and Andre Onana extended his loan spell at Trabzonspor (although Man Utd fans would be happy with that!)
Arsenal also have to consider Chelsea, who have broken the bank signing Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for a mammoth £116m as well as adding Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace and Marco Palestra from Atalanta. More importantly, Xabi Alonso has added the experienced duo of Danny Welbeck (Brighton) and Jordan Henderson (Brentford) to the squad.
And I hate to say this, although not title contenders, but Spurs under Roberto de Zerbi has splashed the cash and could turn almost relegated Spurs into a top-6 team this season.
The Italian brought in Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for £100m and Mateus Fernandes from relegated West Ham for a reported £85m. Also brought in were Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka.
De Zerbi is still lining up Cody Gakpo from Liverpool and Savinho from Manchester City.
Former Bournemouth manager, Andoni Iraola has had some mixed results during pre-season and despite leading the Cherries to European football last season, may find life in one of the "Big 6" tough. Iraola has signed Jeremy Jacquet from Stade Rennais, Victor Munoz from Osasuna and Ronald Araujo from Barcelona on loan.
Arsenal's courting of Vini Jnr of Real Madrid was probably nothing more than the Brazilian using the English Champions to up his contract validity at the Bernabau.
But with Piero Hincapie being made permanent and the arrival of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle, Arsenal have made their intent clear to retain the title they last won in 2004 before lifting the coveted trophy in May this year.
The departure of Leandro Trossard will not be felt as Tzolis has proven - so far - to be a far better deal. However, with William Saliba out for an extended period of time with a back injury, Arteta will be looking to shore up their central defense by signing Jarell Quansah from Bayern Leverkusen.
And, should the interest in Galatasary's Victor Osimhen prove true, then Arteta will have Victor Gyokeres, Havertz and Osimhen to call on for goals.
All in all, the 2026/27 English Premier League season is going to be an interesting one. Don't automatically throw your money behind Arsenal because Manchester United and Chelsea could just surprise a few people!!!