WHAT A RESULT: Preview of the Week

2003/2004 Preview

Arsenal may have had an unbeaten season but it will be almost impossible for them to achieve the same feat next season. The Gunners may also find it far more difficult to hold off a Chelsea side that's guaranteed to include a number of high-profile signings - and probably a new manager.

At the same time Arsenal will have to contend with a Manchester United side that wants to make up for this season in the only way it knows how: winning the Championship. Sir Alex Ferguson is also likely to invest in some key areas over the summer months, with Leeds' Alan Smith a hot favourite to join Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Louis Saha in attack.

As for the rest of the league, only Liverpool and Newcastle have a chance of catching the Gunners. But even their hopes are slim. Liverpool need to find some consistency, whereas Newcastle's players simply have to stay fitter for longer. The Magpies could also do with avoiding their traditionally slow start to the season.

Further down the league teams like Aston Villa, Bolton, Fulham and Charlton will all battle for the mid-table places with Birmingham City, Southampton and Middlesbrough. Once again, they will all prove that anybody can be beaten in the English league by taking points off the big clubs throughout the season.

At the foot of the league things will be even more interesting. Established names like Manchester City, Tottenham and Everton will be hoping to turn things around over the summer, or they could be fighting for survival with newly promoted teams like Norwich City and West Bromich Albion. Having watched major clubs like West Ham, Leeds and Nottingham Forest all slip into Division One, the big clubs will be doing everything they can to avoid the drop.

But with Euro 2004 being played in the summer one thing's for certain: a number of new faces will appear in the Premier League next season. The question is, will any of them will be good enough to score a winning goal against Arsenal?