English Premier League Guide 2008-2009

ARSENAL
Nickname: The Gunners
Ground: Emirates Stadium
Capacity: 60,000
Position last season: Third
Manager: Arsene Wenger (September 1996)

The Gunners look a little short of quality to me and I think they might slip from third to fourth this season. There have been a couple of high profile departures from the club in Alexander Hleb and Mathieu Flamini. New signing Samir Nasri looks like a scaled down version of Hleb and I'm a bit worried about Emmanuel Adebayor, who I think did want to leave over the summer. We don't know for sure when Eduardo will be back and although I like the look of youngster Jack Wilshire I think this year might be a little too early for him. It must be a big season for Theo Walcott.

KEY MAN: Cesc Fabregas. A fabulous player who must score plenty of goals from midfield.

ASTON VILLA
Nickname: The Villans
Ground: Villa Park
Capacity: 42,593
Last season: Sixth
Manager: Martin O'Neill (August 2006)

Villa finished sixth last season and I don't see why they cannot do as well this time around. They have signed defender Carlos Cuellar from Rangers. I saw him play several times last season and he was outstanding. Manager Martin O'Neill has built a fantastic team spirit and I imagine the dressing room at Villa is a fantastic place to be. If O'Neill sells Gareth Barry to Liverpool for £18m I think it will be one of the sales of the century.

KEY MAN: Steve Sidwell. He did not play much at Chelsea but if Barry does leave the club he will have the responsibility to hold it together in the middle of midfield.

BLACKBURN ROVERS
Nickname: Rovers
Ground: Ewood Park
Capacity: 31,367
Last season: Seventh
Manager: Paul Ince (June 2008)

Paul Ince has a difficult job replacing Mark Hughes.