Premier League 2014-15 Preview: Part three
LAST SEASON:
Defied doomsayers and opening-day defeat to spend more days at top of table than any other team, without ever really looking like winning the title. Embarrassed by top four rivals, but overall a year of improvement crowned by FA Cup win
TRANSFERS:
Key ins: Alexis Sanchez, Calum Chambers, Mathieu Debuchy, David Ospina. Key outs: Thomas Vermaelen, Bacary Sagna, Lukas Fabianski, Nicklas Bendtner
BIG YEAR FOR:
Jack Wilshere. Early promise has been stifled by series of injuries to extent that Arsenal have got used to life without him. Needs to find his best role in midfield and make himself indispensable or risk being sidelined by club and country
THIS SEASON:
End of trophy drought and addition of World Cup star Sanchez have inflated hopes of a sustained title tilt, though Chelsea and Man City look better equipped. Third or higher would be success of sorts
MANAGER SAFETY:
Loyal Alsatian proved there was life in the old dog yet by ending a nine-year wait for silverware. Slight danger Wenger may walk if terrace howls return, but no risk of being let go by appreciative owner
8/10
TREVOR STEVEN’S VERDICT:
Fantastic quality in attacking positions and could nip in if Chelsea falter but need a fantastic defensive midfielder, such as Sami Khedira, and a quality centre-back to be right up there in the betting
LAST SEASON:
Dubbed “a little horse” by Jose Mourinho, the Blues stayed among the frontrunners throughout but tired in the home straight and were pipped by Manchester City and Liverpool. Champions League semi-finals also proved a fence too far
TRANSFERS:
Key ins: Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas, Filipe Luis, Didier Drogba. Key outs: David Luiz, Romelu Lukaku, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Samuel Eto’o, Demba Ba
BIG YEAR FOR:
Cesc Fabregas. Can be deep-lying playmaker Chelsea have yearned for, form formidable partnership with Nemanja Matic and provide bullets for Diego Costa. Has a point to prove after being offloaded by Barcelona and passed over by former club Arsenal
THIS SEASON:
Silverware of some sort looks a pre-requisite in the second season of the Special One’s second coming, and canny trading has seen the now-cash conscious Blues strengthen in key areas while breaking even. Fancied to pinch City’s league title
MANAGER SAFETY:
Mourinho’s love affair with supporters and apparent conviviality with Roman Abramovich makes him near-untouchable for now. Has not lifted a trophy for two years, though, and Chelsea not known for tolerance of bosses who preside over barren seasons
8/10
TREVOR STEVEN’S VERDICT:
Providing Diego Costa hits the ground running, Chelsea will be right up there. He is the spearhead they’ve been lacking, and there is quality and pedigree throughout the rest of the squad. Potential champions