Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brentford, and Brighton
With the Premier League season kicking off this Friday (August 15th), now seemed like a good idea to provide a quick preview for every club involved. Where they stand, what to get excited about, what to be worried about, and try and provide a rough prediction on where they could (or should) be finishing.
AFC Bournemouth
What happened last season?
The Cherries had an incredible 1st-half to the season, reaching the lofty heights of 6th place as late as the end of the year. 2025 presented a reality check, with Bournemouth losing consistency. Their small squad inevitably felt the effects of a lack of rotation in their starting line-up. Though they eventually missed out on European qualification, despite being in contention for nearly the entire season, they still finished 9th, equalling both their highest ever finish and record points total (56).
Reasons to be cheerful
Last season, it seemed like Head Coach Andoni Iraola was constantly being linked with various higher-profile jobs, after his excellent work in charge of the south-coast club. If Iraola’s final year in charge (his contract expires in 2026) plays out the same as the previous 2 seasons, it could be another exciting year ahead. Bournemouth fans will also be delighted that star winger Antoine Semenyo signed a contract extension this summer, after being linked with various high-profile clubs.
Reasons to be fearful
Though they managed to keep Semenyo on the south coast, Bournemouth were helpless to prevent various European giants taking 3/4 of their starting defence. They lost Milos Kerkez (Liverpool), Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid), and Illya Zabarnyi (PSG), for a combined fee of £147million ($198.6m). Though they’ve already brought in left-back Adrien Truffert (Stade Rennais), they’ll be desperate for reinforcements at centre-back, being left with Marcos Senesi, James Hill (combined 27 league appearances in 24/25 season), and Chris Mepham (returning from a loan spell in the Championship at Sunderland), as their only senior centre-backs.
Key signing
Whoever comes in at centre-back.
Predicted finish: Mid-table
After finishing 12th and 9th in previous seasons, it feels like Bournemouth may have hit their ceiling, especially as they’ll have to deal with significant change in their starting defence.
Arsenal
What happened last season?
For the 3rd season in a row, they finished 2nd. Unlike the previous 2 seasons, Arsenal didn’t offer a serious title challenge, finding themselves 9 points behind Liverpool at the start of February, though they were the only team to even come close to challenging the eventual champions. They also had an impressive run to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, losing to eventual winners PSG.
Reasons to be cheerful
After what seems like years of pundits, commentators, and fans, all screaming for a new striker, Arsenal have finally signed a striker! Along with Victor Gyökeres (signed from Sporting CP), Arsenal have added Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), Noni Madueke (Chelsea), and Cristhian Mosquera (Valencia) to the first-team. They also signed strong back-up options in Christian Nørgaard (Brentford) and Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea). On paper, they have 2 quality options in every position, along with a healthy mix of youth and experience
Reasons to be fearful
Well, we’ve been here before, haven’t we? After pushing Manchester City for the title in 22/23 and 23/24, many felt last season was Arsenal’s big opportunity to win the Premier League, after City’s dramatic drop in form. Instead, Liverpool stole a march on their rivals, and romped to the title. Here we are again, and Arsenal look like strong contenders; can they actually take that final step, and win the title? Additionally, they could do with selling a few players, as they currently have 28 in the first-team squad
Key signing
Though we mentioned the shiny new striker, Zubimendi might be the signing of the season. Operating as a deep-lying playmaker, he will not only provide additional creative and technical ability in midfield, but will also allow Declan Rice to play higher up the pitch, potentially offering a greater attacking threat.
Predicted finish: Title challenge
Anything other than a close-fought title challenge will be seen as a failure, but there’s no reason to think they can’t go close again.
Aston Villa
What happened last season?
Under Unai Emery, Aston Villa have become one of the most consistent teams in the Premier League, and they followed-up their 4th-place finish in 23/24 by finishing 6th in 24/25. They registered just 2 fewer points than the previous season, and missed out on Champions League qualification on goal difference. This was while having a deep run into the Champions League, where they were eliminated in the quarter-final by eventual champions PSG, all while playing an exciting and (at times) relentless attacking brand of football.
Reasons to be cheerful
Villa will be competing in a 3rd different European competition in 3 years, when they enter the Europa League; a competition Emery has won 4 times (3 times in a row with Sevilla, and 1 with Villarreal). With a head coach and squad experienced in playing European football alongside the Premier League season, Villa are in a strong position to continue the good work of the last few seasons.
Reasons to be fearful
Three letters: P.S.R. After narrowly missing out on Champions League revenue, Villa are walking a very fine line on adhering to financial rules for the Premier League and UEFA. They did sell the women’s team to V Sports, the parent company that own Aston Villa, which prevented any immediate sanction from the Premier League, but still have work to do to avoid a UEFA SCR (Squad Cost Rule) breach. As of 25/26, the SCRs state “spending on player and coach wages and transfers and agent fees must be capped at 70 per cent of a club’s revenue from the 2025-26 season onwards”, with figures estimating it’s currently in the mid-80s for Villa. Therefore, sales are necessary. Emi Martinez, 2-time reigning Yashin trophy winner (awarded to the best goalkeeper in the world) has been linked with a move away from Villa Park, as have Jacob Ramsey, Morgan Rogers, and Ollie Watkins.
Key signing
So far, the only major signing is striker Evann Guessand (OGC Nice), who will at best offer real competition for Watkins’ starting spot, and at worst, will be a helpful option up front.
Predicted finish: Challenge for Europe
Despite the need for sales, Emery and his squad are now experienced at juggling midweek European matches and the domestic calendar. So long as no more than a couple of departures occur, the squad still has enough depth to carry them through the season.
Brentford
What happened last season?
In short, their best season since 1935/36. Despite having one of the smallest budgets in the Premier League, Brentford finished in 10th place, and even threatened a late challenge for European qualification. They also had memorable victories against Manchester United, Newcastle United, and European-bound Nottingham Forest.
Reasons to be cheerful
Since returning to the top division in English football, Brentford have often been held up as one of the better-run football clubs, using a unique data-led transfer policy, that has allowed them to solidify their position as a Premier League team, while still maintaining a sustainable financial model. (Note: if it sounds like I’m scraping the barrel, you’re not wrong)
Reasons to be fearful
In the last 2 months, Brentford have lost: their manager (Thomas Frank, to Spurs) their captain (Christian Nørgaard, to Arsenal), their top goalscorer (Bryan Mbeumo, to Manchester United), and their 2nd-top goalscorer is currently attempting to force a move away (Yoane Wissa, potentially to Newcastle United). While replacing Thomas Frank with former set-piece coach Keith Andrews is definitely bold, and promoting from within is definitely admirable, many think his lack of managerial experience (which is none) could put Brentford at risk.
Key signing
Signing Caoimhin Kelleher to replace Bayer Leverkusen-bound Mark Flekken could be seen as an upgrade, but the free transfer of Jordan Henderson could prove invaluable. Especially after losing the experience of former-captain Nørgaard in midfield.
Predicted finish: Relegation battle
It’s been a tumultuous off-season for the Bees, and if Wissa departs, who will score the goals required to keep them up? There’s still time to get replacements in, but they’ll need to hit the ground running if they’re to avoid getting sucked into a relegation battle.
Brighton and Hove Albion
What happened last season?
Initial inconsistency, as the team adapted to new manager Fabian Hürzeler’s tactical change, but recovered to finish 8th in the Premier League. They only missed out on UEFA Conference League qualification, after Crystal Palace won the FA Cup.
Reasons to be cheerful
Despite having to fend off numerous ‘big clubs’ bidding for their players every transfer window, Brighton have only sold João Pedro (to Chelsea) and Pervis Estupiñán (to AC Milan) from their starting line-up thus far. On top of that, they’ve also purchased several more talented youngsters, such as: Diego Coppola (Hellas Verona), Tom Watson (Sunderland), and Charalampos Kostoulas (Olympiacos). Plus, another pre-season under Hürzeler should also mean a better tactical understanding of the head coach’s set-up.
Reasons to be fearful
Though Brighton tend to share the goals around their frontline, rather than rely on 1 individual striker (Pedro, Mitoma, and Welbeck all scored 10 goals each in the league last season), Pedro’s link-up play will be sorely missed, as he also registered the most assists in 24/25 for Brighton. It’s doubtful a like-for-like replacement can be found, so something will have to change in the Seagulls’ attack.
Key signing
Though still only 18, Kostoulas has commanded a hefty fee, with Brighton spending €35million to sign him from Olympiacos, despite only appearing 35 times for the Greek giants. Despite his obvious potential, the Seagulls may need him to contribute fairly quickly, having only 34 year-old Danny Welbeck and Georginio Rutter (5 goals in 39 appearances) as senior strikers, following Evan Ferguson’s loan to AS Roma.
Predicted finish: Top half/mid-table
With teams like Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur likely to recover from abysmal domestic seasons, it’s going to be even harder for teams like Brighton to challenge for those final European places. They’re still a dangerous Premier League team, capable of beating anyone on their day, and a top-half finish would still be considered a successful season.
