The Club

The Gunners are the most impressive London club domestically, having won the most League titles and FA Cups alongside a UEFA Cup. The club itself, though, has been in a period of flux for the last decade or so. Since they left Highbury, Arsenal have seen title pushes become rarer and also a need to balance the books see top players move on at peak years. With the club one of the richest and most fiscally mature clubs on the planet, though, they have the means to finally return.

16-17 – How Was It?

A shock. They won the FA Cup in impressive fashion, but finally crashed out of the Champions League after many, many years of participation. Coach Arsene Wenger came closer than ever to leaving until signing a new 2-year deal, while the club had a lot of transition on and off the pitch.

Star players looked close to leaving, and the disharmony finally seen the club miss out on what is a very important part of their overall image in European progression. That aside, though, much change is expected to come to make up for their worst league campaign in years.

17-18 – What Lies Ahead?

With the likes of Alexandre Lacazette sure to sign up alongside some other impressive names like Sead Kolasinac, Arrsenal have a lot to come. This year should see them compete for he Europa League, fight for Champions League qualification, and try to retain their FA Cup.

The futures of star plyers like Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, though, will likely determine where the club goes. A few more big sales and another transitional period could see Arsenal truly begin to fall behind from a position that for over two decades they have more or less always guaranteed to keep maintaining.

The Club

The most successful English club in recent times, United were the first English side to win a European Cup trophy. Famed for sides such as the Busby Babes and then Fergie’s Fledglings, United were always a team who could compete (bar a few rough spells that even seen relegation) and have long been one of the biggest clubs in the world. Now in the post-Ferguson era, though, the club appears to have transformed its identity and changed how it approaches just about everything in the game, becoming increasingly more modern – for better and for worse.

16-17 – How Was It?

Hard to define. The Europa League win can never be seen as a negative, nor can the League Cup. The European trophy in the cabinet is always a nice feeling, their first in close to a decade. Add in the Champions League qualification it brings, too, and things can be seen to be returning to the ‘good old days’.

However, United played poor football, had the most unimpressive unbeaten run in history, loaded with draws, and done nothing to maximize talent such as Paul Pogba. It’s certainly not the most impressive of seasons for United.

17-18 – What Lies Ahead?

A lot of positivity from the sounds of things. With new signing Victor Lindelof in the door, United have a more solid defence prepared for the years to come with him alongside Eric Bailly. Add in the impressive signings that should be coming in too, with the likes of Alvaro Morata being linked, and United could be returning to their old ways.

Mourinho has a habit of building a strong squad in season two, and it would be no surprise to see the schemer do the same here. We expect a title push and European progress from United.

The Club

The Toffees are, to many peoples surprise, one of the largest clubs in England. Post-80s mismanagement and poor decision making has seen the club rather coast along, with one 4^th place finish since the Premier League began. They are, though, one of the most successful in league wins, cup wins and European honours. While the clubs heyday seems to be long since passed, they were at once stage deemed to be one of the finest clubs in the country.

Still to this day, they possess an excellent support and a fine youth academy.

16-17 – How Was It?

Transitional. The much-needed end of Roberto Martinez was a huge step forward, with the rather expensive hiring of Ronald Koeman and Steve Walsh from Southampton and Leicester putting the club on the map. Huge spending since has seen the club put in place an interesting squad, although 16/17 was more about blooding the likes of Tom Davies.

Comfortable in their 7^th place finish, Everton managed to put in place the building blocks for a transitional summer. Romelu Lukaku finally took that next step and, while success was rather limited, the club looked more alive than previously.

17-18 – What Lies Ahead?

A lot of work. Major new signings are coming in at a pace we can barely keep up with, with Malaga striker Sandro Ramirez arriving the most recent at the time of writing. Everton look to be losing a few important players, too, though, so it will be interesting to see how the latest signings can help to take the club forward.

With all the clubs ahead of them buying more proven talent, though, it might be that all Everton can show in 1718 is ambition. This is a long-term project, and a transitional top half finish wouldn’t be surprising.

The Club

Formed in 1885, Southampton – The Saints – have long been a club that people respect. Famed for their brilliant youth academy and their sole FA Cup win in 1976, the south coast outfit have always been relatively well liked. With the likes of Matt le Tissier once making them worth watching, Southampton are a club that has been on an upward trajectory in recent years. An excellent footballing department in the club ensures that they can overcome the most unsettling of incidents and departures, always filling St Mary’s with passionate fans regardless.

16-17 – How Was It?

Ok. They finished 8^th and seen improvement in many of their younger talents. Manager Claude Puel, though, suffered from a lack of personality and it felt like much of the season faded out in rather average form. They lost the League Cup Final, too, in poor form, despite being by far and away the better side.

A rather awkward and simple season in many aspects, the uniform simplicity of the season seemed to become a problem for Saints fans who had finally see the limits of the clubs ambitions tested, with crucial departures really limiting long-term progress overall.

17-18 – What Lies Ahead?

A decent mid-table finish again seems likely. Ex-Liverpool player Mauricio Pellegrino has come into the club, a talented and intelligent coach. With the likes of Virgil van Dijk surely to leave, though, there is little appetite amongst the fans for anything too exciting.

New signings are thin on the ground, and many of them look to be young, hit-and-hope replacements for star names sure to be moving on. Wherever the Saints go from here, it will be hard to determine just where they should be given the relative quality of the talent that the club can afford and call upon.