Arsenal

Odds: 7/1

Last Five Seasons

2005/06 – 4 (Premiership), 2004/05 – 2 (Premiership), 2003/04 – 1 (Premiership), 2002/03 – 2 (Premiership), 2001/02 – 1 (Premiership).

2005/06 Cup Progress

FA Community Shield vs Chelsea (n) – lost 2-1.

Champions League Final vs Barcelona (n) – lost 2-1.

FA Cup Fourth Round vs Bolton Wanderers (a) – lost 1-0.

Carling Cup Semi Final vs Wigan Athletic – lost on away goals with the score 2-2 on aggregate after extra time.

Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Thierry Henry (striker) – 33 goals.

Players In

Tomas Rosicky (Borussia Dortmund – £8,000,000)

Players Out

Robert Pires (Villarreal – Free), Sol Campbell (Portsmouth – Free), Mark Howard (Cardiff City – Free), Michael Jordan (Chesterfield – Free), Graham Stack (Reading – Loan), Kerrea Gilbert (Cardiff City – Loan), Fabrice Muamba (Birmingham City – Loan), Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham City – Loan), Nicklas Bendtner (Birmingham City – Loan), Dennis Bergkamp (Released).

Arsenal were within a whisker of becoming the second English side in succession to win the Champions League but came unstuck in the final against eventual winners Barcelona. By their own standards, Arsenal slipped up somewhat in the Premiership, finishing the campaign in fourth place, but Europe’s biggest prize would have more than made up for it.

Manager Arsene Wenger has allowed a host of fringe and more senior players to leave before a ball is kicked in the brand new Emirates Stadium, but has pulled off a coup by signing Tomas Rosicky from Borussia Dortmund. The Czech Republic international joined the Gunners for an undisclosed fee believed to be £8 million, after five seasons in Germany. He has racked up 15 goals in 53 international appearances and set a Bundesliga record when he joined Dortmund from Sparta Prague for £18 million in 2001.

Long serving centre back Sol Campbell joined Portsmouth on a free transfer after his contract expired in North London. Campbell infamously stormed out of Highbury after being substituted at half time in a defeat by West Ham United in February and considered walking away from the game for good. However, he came back strongly and netted in the Champions League final in May. Since arriving on a free transfer from bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur in 2001 Campbell made 197 appearances for the club and won 68 England caps.

Wenger also lost winger Robert Pires to Villarreal but has been unsuccessful in trying to lure Franck Ribery to the club as a replacement. Joe Antionio Reyes has also been linked heavily with a return to Spain with Real Madrid.

Verdict

Despite numerous departures Arsenal are still in very good shape and will look to improve on last season’s fourth placed finish. Rosicky adds experience to a young midfield and Thierry Henry will again be prolific. A third placed finish is the least they can expect to achieve.