Arsenal are set to retain their Premier League title this season, according to BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty in his annual predictions piece.
Having finally ended a 22-year wait for the championship, Mikel Arteta’s side are backed to go back-to-back, with McNulty calling it the easiest prediction of them all.
Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis impressed heavily as Arsenal dismantled Manchester City in the Community Shield, signalling the quality of reinforcements brought in this summer.
Manchester City are predicted to finish second despite a significant period of transition, with Enzo Maresca stepping in following the departure of Pep Guardiola and key figures including Rodri, Bernardo Silva and John Stones also leaving.
McNulty believes any team featuring Erling Haaland can never be ruled out of anything, and is confident City will still win silverware, with £116m signing Elliot Anderson already through the door.
Liverpool are tipped for third place under new manager Andoni Iraola, who has arrived from Bournemouth tasked with restoring order following a dismal title defence last season.
Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak are among the key figures McNulty expects to carry Liverpool forward, with Bradley Barcola, Rio Ngumoha, Jeremy Jacquet, Giovanni Leoni and Victor Munoz also mentioned as players who could contribute to a strong campaign.
Chelsea are boldly placed fourth by McNulty, with Xabi Alonso tasked with reshaping a large squad while managing a disaffected Enzo Fernandez, though the arrivals of Morgan Rogers and Maxence Lacroix are highlighted as outstanding additions.
Manchester United, now in their first full season under Michael Carrick following Ruben Amorim’s sacking, are placed fifth, with McNulty expecting a Champions League finish but ruling out any realistic title challenge this term.
Aston Villa sit sixth in McNulty’s predictions despite a summer of significant change, with Unai Emery losing key players including Tielemans and Rogers while bringing in loan signing Alejandro Garnacho and £38m Wolves recruit Joao Gomes.
Tottenham Hotspur, who survived relegation on the final day last season, are tipped for seventh after a heavily backed summer transfer window under Roberto de Zerbi, including £100m Sandro Tonali and £85m Mateus Fernandes arrivals in midfield.
Nottingham Forest, who controversially cycled through four managers last season, are predicted to finish eighth under Oliver Glasner, with the £116m raised from selling Elliot Anderson expected to fund significant new additions.
Brighton are placed ninth despite additional workload from Conference League football, with Fabian Hurzeler’s side bolstered by the £46m signing of young defender Luka Vuskovic from Spurs and Pascal Struijk arriving from Leeds.
Brentford are tipped for tenth after Keith Andrews impressed in his first full season, with club-record signing Mamadou Sangare from Lens and the arrival of Callum Wilson among the key summer business at the club.
Crystal Palace, who lost manager Glasner and defender Lacroix this summer, are placed eleventh, with McNulty backing Pierre Sage to replicate the form that made him Ligue 1 manager of the year at Lens.
Newcastle United sit twelfth following a turbulent summer that saw Eddie Howe, Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes all depart, leaving new boss Matthias Jaissle with a significant rebuilding job ahead.
Everton are placed thirteenth, with manager David Moyes admitting “we’re far off from where we want to be” and expressing a desire to do “a lot more business” before the window closes.
Bournemouth drop to fourteenth in McNulty’s predictions following Andoni Iraola’s departure, with new boss Marco Rose also facing the added challenge of managing Europa League football alongside a Premier League campaign.
Leeds United are tipped for fifteenth, with Daniel Farke backed by a club-record £45m signing of goalkeeper James Trafford from Manchester City and the capture of Harry Wilson from Fulham regarded as a real coup.
Fulham, Sunderland, Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City complete the table, with McNulty acknowledging Sunderland’s European adventure may prove a reality check and tipping all three promoted sides to face an extremely difficult season.
