Premier League returns and Arsenal sense opportunity with rivals in flux

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But it is when Arteta quibbles over another bout of semantics that he highlights why he is entering the new season with such energy and optimism.Do not talk to him about Arsenal’s stability. Emery is second on the list, having been at Villa for three years and nine months, and only one other – Daniel Farke at Leeds – has been at his club for more than three years.When Arteta was given the job at Arsenal, Pep Guardiola was two titles into his storied City tenure, Jürgen Klopp had won the Champions League at Liverpool and was on his way to winning the league that season and José Mourinho had just joined Spurs.Mikel Arteta and Arsenal held their nerve to hold off the challenge from Manchester City last season.

Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianArteta has seen them all off, with Guardiola’s departure from City at the end of last season being the most significant single shift in the dynamics for the forthcoming campaign.Arteta is now the big beast, the only current manager to have won the Premier League, and as Arsenal prepare for the curtain-raiser at home to Coventry on Friday night, it is hard to ignore the confidence they are projecting. If Guardiola’s exit has hit City the hardest, then those of the commanding midfielders to Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively, is not far behind.City’s faith in their new manager, Enzo Maresca, is rooted in what they saw of him when he worked on their coaching staff; he was an assistant to Guardiola in the treble-winning season of 2022-23.

Previously, he coached the Under‑23s to the Premier League 2 title in 2020-21.Elliot Anderson has arrived at Manchester City for £116m, but, like his manager, he has big shoes to fill. Can City be better given the personnel losses they have sustained?