ARSENAL
HOW THEY STACK UP
MONEY MATTERS
Odds: 7/2
Chelsea lack depth, Man City and Arsenal have problems at the back while Man United are still looking for the right combination. As the EPL big guns kick-off the new season with high expectations, HT assesses strengths and weaknesses of the top-four contenders:
CHELSEA
LAST YEAR: THIRD
EPL clubs have spent big to add firepower to their squad. Here’s a look at how much the top teams have splurged so far in the transfer market, which closes on Sept 1:
ATTACK While they have been linked to the likes of Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema, Wenger is happy with what he has at his disposal in the form of Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott (right) and Danny Welbeck. Add to it Alexis Sanchez’s (left) goals from the left of midfield and they look potent.
LAST YEAR: CHAMPIONS
Odds: 7/4
ATTACK Diego Costa (left) proved a wonderfully potent and belligerent debutant last term and the Blues will hope that the Spaniard will get them off to a blistering start. In Radamel Falcao and Loic Remy they have capable back-up options.
CHELSEA IN 2015-16 Total spending:
OTHER BUYS Kenedy — £6.23m (`61.72 cr); From: Fluminense Nathan — £3.15m (`31.20 cr); From: Atletico Paranaense
It’s safe to say they have one of the best midfields in the league with strong back-up options. Mesut Ozil, in his third year with the club, looked sharp in pre-season, so did Jack Wilshere (out injured), Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla (above) and Francis Coquelin.
They have an array of talent with an ace in Eden Hazard (right). Cesc Fabregas (left) and Nemanja Matic have a nice combination going at the heart of it while Willian, Ramires and Oscar have supported them well.
Radamel Falcao — on loan; From: AS Monaco Danilo Pantic — free transfer; From: FK Partizan
TRANSFER Last five seasons: £418.5m SPENDING (`4145.92 cr) £96.39m £75.39m £85.05m ( 954.8 cr) ( 842.36 cr) ( 746.7 cr) £88.97m £72.70m ( 881.3 cr) ( 720.25 cr)
DEFENCE The Petr Cech (right) effect was already felt in the Community Shield win over Chelsea and Wenger will hope he can steady the jitters that have sometimes afflicted them. By signing no defenders, he has shown faith in Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny.
DEFENCE
2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
MANCHESTER CITY IN 2015-16 Total spending:
OTHER BUYS
Gunners’ forwards need to focus on is their conversion rate. Quite often last season Giroud and Welbeck were guilty of profligacy.
Fabian Delph — £8.05m (`79.7 cr); From: Aston Villa Patrick Roberts — £4.90m (`48.53 cr); From: Fulham
Another issue might be lack of back up to defensive midfielder Coquelin, who played a crucial role in latter part of last season.
WEAKNESSES: Costa’s hamstring
Enes Unal — £2.10m (`20.80 cr); From: Bursaspor
TRANSFER Last five seasons: SPENDING £387.99m (`3843.11 cr)
Also, it remains to be seen whether Wenger’s decision to not add to his backline is right or not. But going by past experiences, it’s the weakest component of the team.
proved very fragile last season. The pre-season form of Falcao and Remy has not been impressive. No reinforcements provided to the midfield and the strain of playing on the trot may turn out to be too much. The question is how they would cope if Hazard or Fabregas were to be sidelined by a long-time injury.
£127.72m ( 1264.9 cr)
MANCHESTER CITY
2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
They depended heavily on Sergio Aguero (right) to get goals and it will be no dif differdiffer fer-fer ent this season. The addition ition iti on of Raheem Sterling strengthngth gth-ens their forwardline. Their only back-up is Wil Wilfried Wilfri fried fri ed Bony (left) and manager Manuel Pellegrini wi will ll hop hopee to to add more firepower.
IN COMMAN N E D M JOSE MOURINHO (CHELSEA)
The Portuguese started the mind games during the pre-season tour, accusing all challengers to Chelsea’s throne — Arsenal, Man City and Man United — of “buying the title”. The decision to not add many reinforcements says a lot about Mourinho’s faith in his armoury.
£36.67m ( 363.16 cr)
2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
MANCHESTER UNITED IN 2015-16 Total spending:
OTHER BUYS
Memphis Depay — £19.25m (`190.63 cr); From: PSV Eindhoven Bastian Schweinsteiger — £12.60m (`124.75 cr); From: Bayern Munich Matteo Darmian — £12.60m (`124.75 cr); From: Torino Sergio Romero – free transfer; From: Sampdoria
Uni United’s hopes of sig signing Sergio Ramos ha have again been re revived with Real re refusing to match his wa wage demand. Even if tha that deal doesn’t happen, tthe Red Devils have enough options. Chris Smalling (above) is expect expected to be their anchorman in the centre.
United have six players pl for three central midfield slots but there are worries abo about where the creativity will come from. While there are no is issues with the fullbacks slots, the major problem may arise at the centre of the defence and for a new pairing, it will take th them time to gel.
Source: transfermarkt.co.uk
WEAK WE WEAKNESSES: Can Rooney give Van Gaal a 30-goal sseason? Doubts remain. United suffered from a lack of goals last season and despite spending millions in the transfer market, pundits feel the problems may persist.
£68.95m (`682.92 cr)
Top buy: Morgan Schneiderlin — £24.50m (`242.65 cr); From: Southampton
DE DEFENCE
The Frenchman, approaching his 19th year as Arsenal boss, has managed to build a strong squad that could mount a serious challenge for the crown. Wenger believes his squad has the hunger, quality and togetherness to succeed. A good start has been drummed into the players, particularly as they began sluggishly last time.
Odds: ladbrokes.com
£83.81m £37.10m ( 830.03 cr) ( 367.42 cr)
£45.83m ( 483.62 cr)
Van Gaal signed Bastian Schweinsteig Schweinsteiger (right) to command tthe centre and he is the only on high profile name in United’s U midfield. An injury-free Schwe Schweinsteiger and an in-for in-form Juan Mata wil will go a long way in deciding how United far fare this season.
ARSENE WENGER (ARSENAL)
the squad stands at £230 million in 12 months and it is now time to deliver. While there is no real target set for him by the Old Trafford hierarchy, the trajectory has to be skywards that’s for sure.
£16.10m ( 159.46 cr)
MIDFIELD MI
to mount a strong challenge. He has not gone in for a full squad overhaul but has added some fresh legs to his ageing squad, which he believes are the favourites to win the title.
LOUIS VAN GAAL (MANCHESTER UNITED) The Dutchman’s total spending on strengthening
TRANSFER Last five seasons: SPENDING £219.51m (`2173.86 cr)
Robin van Persie’s departure means Wayne Wa Way ne Roo Ro ney (le (left) will return to his Rooney favour fav oured our ed pos positi ition iti on as centre-forward. favoured position Dutch Dut ch you ungs ngster te Mem ter youngster Memphis Depay (right (ri ght)) will ght will pa partn rtner rtn er him from left or (right) partner sittin sit tingg just tin just us be behin hindd h hin sitting behind him. Louis van Gaall hope Gaa h opess to ope to buy buy Pe hopes Pedro to add teeth tee th to the forwardline. forwa fo rward
MANUEL PELLEGRINI (MANCHESTER CITY) His future secured till 2017-18 season, the Chilean can now look
goes down with injury. With Stevan Jovetic gone and Edin Dzeko on the verge of moving out, the only back-up they have is Bony.
£9.80m (`97.06 cr)
Top buy: Petr Cech — £9.80m; From: Chelsea
ATTACK
WEAKNESSES: Problems will arise if Aguero guero
With an ageing backline and no proper back-up -up added, there remains a huge doubt. Pellegrini will hope main in man Kompany sheds last year’s horrendous show to lead from m front once again.
Total spending:
Odds: 11/2
MIDFIELD
The lack of proper central defensive midfielder cost them last season and they haven’t made any efforts so far to plug that hole. It will give opposition a free run at their defence. No wonder, City are furiously chasing Kevin de Bruyne, so that Toure takes up that role.
IN 2015-16
LAST YEAR: FOURTH
ATTACK
All four defenders — Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany (left), Martin Demichelis and Gael Clichy — also provide good attacking optionss — Zabaleta and Clichy on the he wings, and Kompany and Demichelis in the set pieces.
ARSENAL
MANCHESTER UNITED
Odds: 11/4
DEFENCE
£68.46m ( 678.10 cr)
£81.20m £67.24m ( 804.03 cr) ( 665.9 cr) £43.37m ( 429.5 cr)
LAST YEAR: RUNNERS-UP
Pellegrini will once again look look to to playmaker David Silva (left) Yayaa eft)) and eft and Yay Ya Toure to drive them forward. ard.. If ard ar If all pieces fall into place, wh which ich didn’t occur on occasionss last season, it will be difficultt to stop their charge. When in full flow it’s a delight to watch the City midfield for their slick passing ng game orchestrated by Silva.
£58.80m (`582.33 cr)
Top buy: Raheem Sterling — £43.75m (`433.25 cr); From: Liverpool
WEAKNESSES: One thing the
As always, looks to be the strongest cog with Kurt Zouma providing able cover if the John Terry (left) and Gary Cahill axis starts creaking. Branislav Ivanovic is a super right-back and Cesar Azpilicueta can play on both flanks. In Thibaut Courtois, they have a sturdy goalkeeper.
(`169.20 cr)
Top buy: Asmir Begovic — £7.70m (`76.28 cr); From: Stoke City
MIDFIELD
MIDFIELD
£17.08 million
TRANSFER Last five seasons: SPENDING £305.46m (`3024.48 cr) £136.75m ( 1353.97 cr) £53.52m ( 529.88 cr) £20.51m ( 203.09 cr) £54.57m £40.11m ( 540.28 cr) ( 397.18 cr)
2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15