Premier League expert picks: predicting the champions, player of the season, best signing and more

The 2024/25 Premier League season is here as the action gets underway on Friday, with Manchester United taking on Fulham in the only match of the day. There are 38 long days of play ahead to crown the champions, top four and more, with the newcomers aiming to simply fight for another year in the world’s toughest top division. So how will the season go? Who will get me into the top four, who will be relegated and much more?

Here are our personnel picks for the upcoming Premier League campaign.

Why Arsenal will win the Premier League

It feels like the stars have aligned about as favorably as possible for Arsenal in a galaxy where no one can escape the pull of Pep Guardiola. They have upgraded a relatively weak spot in their squad and if the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori pushes Oleksandr Zinchenko back to his best, so much the better. As of this writing, the depth they need is just about there, or so the defense has it that aura and Martin Odegaard is in the mood. A superstar forward might put them over the top, but a case can be made that last season’s top scorers don’t really need one, especially if Gabriel Jesus can get more minutes than last season. With Manchester City ahead so far in the transfer window, they may just need one big step forward from Arsenal. –James Benge

Martin Odegaard for player of the season

It’s important not to over-index during pre-season, but the Arsenal captain has attacked it with a goal that will surely carry over when the games matter. While so many other superstars (on his team and elsewhere) will have a summer of European or Copa America wear and tear to shake off, Odegaard (and Erling Haaland, it should be noted) has had a summer to cook, to the giant leap forward that could take him to the top of the English game. If this is Arsenal’s season, it will surely be Odegaard’s too. –James Benge

Bournemouth will surprise many

After losing Dominic Solanke to Tottenham, you might expect the Cherries to take a step back, but under Andoni Iraola they are well set up for success. Solanke’s replacement is already in the team of Enes Unal, who showed he can lead the charge with consecutive seasons of over fourteen goals for Getafe before suffering a cruciate ligament tear. He will have to show that he is back to his best this season, but thanks to the support of Antoine Semenyo and Luis Sinisterra, Bournemouth will have enough to give the teams something to think about. Add that to a cohesive system and this is a side that can push for European football, while still having money in the bank for reinforcements if needed. –Chuck Booth

Aston Villa, the biggest disappointment?

The bar was set extremely high last season by Unai Emery’s Villa, who will now find themselves in the Champions League, as well as a highly competitive group of clubs seeking European qualification in the Premier League. Newcastle United showed how difficult it can be to balance EPL and UCL commitments and the Villans join Europe’s top competition in the first year of a new format, meaning even more games for a side still has some obvious gaps to fill, despite some neat additions. Going by pre-season form, it could be a tough campaign for the Birmingham giants. Chelsea are also a contender to disappoint, but they have been doing that for the past few years, which arguably means expectations should be quite low anyway. –Jonathan Johnson

Best signing: Riccardo Calafiori from Arsenal

After two consecutive second-place finishes in the Premier League, Arsenal’s transfer strategy is understandably focused on bringing in players who can help them now, regardless of price. The latest addition to that series is the Italian Riccardo Calafiori, who made the big switch from Bologna to the Premier League after the European Championship. He looks set to fit in well at Arsenal as Mikel Arteta continues to build a defensive powerhouse and challenge for the title again. – Pardeep Cattry