Can Arsenal better Man City? Talking points as the Premier League kicks off
The new Premier League season kicks off this weekend with clubs still finalising their squads for the challenge ahead. Champions Manchester City and last season’s runners-up Arsenal will resume battle with the Gunners’ having struck an early blow in the Community Shield, while newcomers Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton begin the task of ensuring their stay among the big boys is not fleeting. Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the talking points surrounding the opening fixtures. Auf wiedersehen, Harry? Harry Kane’s “will he, won’t he?” summer saga finally approached its conclusion on the eve of the new campaign as he headed for Germany with a view to tying up a £95million switch from Tottenham to Bayern Munich. The England skipper’s impending departure is likely to dismay fans of a club which drastically under-achieved in finishing eighth last season. Spurs open their campaign at Brentford on Sunday with the travelling supporters contemplating what life after Harry may represent. Big six backlash? If last season’s top three had a familiar look about it with Manchester United following their neighbours and Arsenal across the finishing line, there was a measure of turbulence below them as Newcastle disturbed the established order to push Liverpool out of the top four and Brighton claimed sixth spot with Aston Villa hot on their heels. Despite losing Jordan Henderson and Roberto Firmino to the Saudi Arabian exodus, the Reds have added World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai to their ranks with Moises Caicedo also seemingly on his way to Anfield, while James Maddison is perhaps the most eye-catching of Tottenham’s summer arrivals and Chelsea’s spending spree shows no signs of abating as the wounded prepare to fight back. Baptism of fire If Gary O’Neil felt hard done by when he was relieved of his duties at Bournemouth in June having steered the club to Premier League safety, it did not blunt his readiness to take on a challenge. The former Portsmouth and Middlesbrough midfielder was parachuted into the hotseat vacated by dissatisfied Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui after the Spaniard and the club decided to go their separate ways as a result of disagreements over recruitment. O’Neil stepped into the void with just days to prepare for Wolves’ opening fixture – a daunting trip to a rejuvenated Manchester United on Monday evening. Welcome to the jungle Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton will set foot in the top flight knowing the first and overwhelming priority is survival. Last season was the first since 2017-18 when the three promoted clubs all stayed up, with at least one having made an immediate return to the top flight at the end of each of the previous four. The Hatters last played in England’s top division in 1992, but having worked their way back from the non-league ranks in the last decade, they know all about fighting tooth and nail. In it for the long haul Unpopular as it may be with some, referees’ chief Howard Webb has insisted moves to eradicate time-wasting are here to stay, and that means there could be some lengthy matches this season. Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Manchester United defender Raphael Varane are among those to have questioned moves to tackle the game’s “dark arts”, as well as behaviour on and off the pitch, but their concerns have fallen on deaf ears. How will they feel after the weekend? Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Jamie Ritchie ready to lead Scotland in Saint-Etienne showdown with France Eddie Howe says Newcastle cannot ‘slap money on table’ in pursuit of signing Moises Caicedo record £110m fee is agreed for Liverpool switch – Jurgen Klopp
2023-08-11 19:29
China keeps lending benchmark rates unchanged, as expected
SHANGHAI/SINGAPORE China left benchmark lending rates unchanged at a monthly fixing on Monday, matching expectations, as a weaker
2023-11-20 09:54
Injured prop Healy misses out on Ireland Rugby World Cup squad
Veteran prop Cian Healy was left out of Ireland's Rugby World Cup squad due to injury, the Irish Rugby Football...
2023-08-28 00:45
Leonardo DiCaprio, 48, and Irina Shayk, 37, spark age row amid ‘just friends’ status after Cannes outing
Irina Shayk is older than Leonardo DiCaprio's usual companions as the actor tends to date women 25 and younger
2023-05-26 14:27
Jennifer Lawrence's 'Hot Ones' is hilariously dramatic
Jennifer Lawrence is definitely not the calmest contestant on First We Feast's Hot Ones (that
2023-06-23 18:30
The Rock waxwork museum working on 'urgent' skin tone fix
Paris's Grevin museum promises to address concerns over the skin tone of its life-sized figure.
2023-10-24 16:58
Ex-USA Gymnastics doctor Nassar stabbed in prison: union official
Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics team doctor convicted of sexually assaulting hundreds of athletes, was in stable condition Monday after being stabbed multiple times by another...
2023-07-10 23:55
Coach Dennis Allen says Saints have identified challenges, but are still seeking solutions
New Orleans Saints coach Dennis Allen views his team’s recent rough patch through a hopeful lens
2023-10-21 07:28
Cheems Balltze, the internet's cheeseburger-loving dog, has died
Cheems Balltze, a little dog whose smiling face and stocky physique went viral in memes about his passion for cheeseburgers, has died after a short battle with cancer.
2023-08-21 21:51
Five key moments in the crushing of Afghan women's rights
Over two years, the BBC has documented women's fear, grief and resolve as their lives are supressed.
2023-08-15 07:25
U.S. FDA found lapses at Novo's main U.S. factory in May 2022 -report
By Maggie Fick LONDON (Reuters) -U.S. drug regulators issued a report detailing quality control lapses at Novo Nordisk's main factory
2023-09-21 16:57
Big central banks are still hiking rates but eye the end
LONDON Inflation is cooling, meaning major central banks can start to think about ending interest rate hikes even
2023-06-22 21:22
You Might Like...
US Commerce secretary says hack was significant, unacceptable
Raphinha sends firm transfer message amid Arsenal & Newcastle links
Penn State to hire Kansas' Andy Kotelnicki as offensive coordinator, AP source says
What happened to Olivia Knighton? Former MLS goalkeeper Brad Knighton's daughter, 11, tragically dies in boating accident
Low-flying helicopter sparks crazy crocodile orgy in Australia
Phillies move over .500 for the first time in more than a month, beating Diamondbacks 5-4
True Search Launches Sustainability Practice in EMEA and APAC
Was Andrew Tate's father aggressive? Top G reveals childhood experience, trolls say 'bro used to get bullied by his dad'
