Premier League’s managerial musical chairs is like never before – Arsenal couldn’t be better placed for more Prem glory

ENGLISH football’s top flight has never witnessed a game of managerial musical chairs like this one. For the first time, nine clubs have new men in charge and the main winners will surely be Arsenal. Mikel Arteta could benefit from being one of a few top managers to hold onto their role this summer Credit: Getty Enzo Maresca will replace Arteta’s rival Pep Guardiola at Manchester City Credit: PA The Premier League champions will take on Manchester City on Sunday in the Community Shield, the season’s appetiser before the main course arrives in a few days. Regardless of the score at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium — history tells us not to read too much into the result — Gunners boss Mikel Arteta and his squad are superbly placed to successfully defend their title. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! Even by recent standards, the managerial mayhem has been extraordinary. Arteta’s big mate, Pep Guardiola, has left Arsenal’s main rivals, which is an even bigger boost than the Gunners buying a world-class striker. Pep’s replacement Enzo Maresca could do well, but considering the amount of experience the City team has lost, there is no guarantee. Andoni Iraola faces a massive task at Liverpool and it would be a huge surprise if he turns them into contenders again straight away. Xabi Alonso will improve Chelsea, but the only guarantee is that they will not finish tenth again. Michael Carrick was only confirmed as Manchester United’s permanent manager this summer and they could close the gap. Most read in Sport CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Unai Emery is the only top-six finisher from last season to hold onto his job Credit: Getty But United are a work in progress and they will do well to really cause Arsenal some discomfort. The other top-six boss from last season to stay in his job was Unai Emery, but he has lost players rather than improved his Aston Villa team, so it looks as though it is Arsenal’s title to lose. Asked if so many managerial changes will help his side, Arteta said: “Every club would have their strengths. Some because they have won a lot in the last ten years, some because of the squads, some because of the money they have spent. “We know ours and ours is related to what we have been producing for the last four or five years in a really consistent way. “But we can be better and that is what we are focusing on to sustain that consistency — you called it stability. But I don’t want to be stable, I want to be better and more ambitious. That is what we want.” City will still be Arsenal’s main competitors. However, Arteta claimed: “We will have a lot of challengers, looking at the squads, at the managers and at the clubs they are. “But we know that. We need to focus on ourselves and make sure we maximise every resource we have to give ourselves the best chance. “Then, day by day, it is going to be a long, long run. Andoni Iraola has replaced Arne Slot at Liverpool just over a year following his title triumph with the Reds Credit: AP “We know this league is full of incredible managers. It is so challenging every week to prepare games against them. “That will elevate our level and my level for sure and we will try to be better.” Despite being in a good position, and the pressure finally off after winning the title, Arsenal fans do have some concerns. William Saliba, the best defender in the Prem, is sidelined with injury and Arteta is looking at Villa’s Ezri Konsa and Bayer Leverkusen’s Jarell Quansah. After failing to land Vinicius Junior, Arsenal are still looking at a left winger but a high-profile arrival appears unlikely. But this Gunners team is still not yet at its peak. Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka returned last week and could be on the bench in Wales. Saka’s absence has also allowed more game-time in pre-season for Max Dowman and it is inevitable that he will soon receive a senior call-up for the England team. Xabi Alonso (pictured), Roberto De Zerbi and Michael Carrick are all new in their roles Credit: Shutterstock Editorial The changes mean that many of Arteta’s title challengers are in periods of uncertainty Credit: Getty While some roll their eyes when the name of striker Viktor Gyokeres is mentioned, he is not quite as bad as you think — despite back-heeling the ball to an invisible Arsenal player against Borussia Dortmund in last week’s 3-2 Emirates Cup defeat. An upgrade would be the dream but it is not realistic. Gyokeres still scored 21 goals in his opening season and even though he cost £63.5million, that is still £8.5m less than flop Nicolas Pepe. The Swede could enjoy a better second season and you would still expect him to improve on his Prem tally of 14. Although he played 36 games in the top flight, just 26 of those were starts and he will have another major battle for a starting spot with Kai Havertz. Undoubtedly, Arteta would like to strengthen but he has options in every department and all of the new managers this summer would love to be in his position. Play Dream Team this season! £100,000 in prize money up for grabs in 2026/27 Free to enter Play in Mini Leagues against your mates £60,000 jackpot for the overall winner £1,000 prize for winning Gameweek 1 PLAY DREAM TEAM NOW! Comment now