Premier League: 10 things to look out for as the new season kicks off

Manchester United’s new-look midfield, Ipswich’s ambition is tested and Kevin Keegan tributes at Newcastle

While Myles Lewis-Skelly looks likely to remain at the Emirates, the same can’t be said for Ethan Nwaneri. The 19-year-old was outstanding in his breakthrough season for Arsenal in 2024-25 but barely featured last season and was sent on loan to Marseille. That didn’t really work out and Arsenal are now exploring another temporary move to ensure Nwaneri gets regular football this season. Milan, RB Leipzig, Dortmund and Fulham are all thought to be interested, with Nwaneri unlikely to feature on the bench for Friday’s opener against Coventry as a result. Whether Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus are available remains to be seen as Arsenal attempt to find suitors for the Brazil duo. Ed Aarons

Arsenal v Coventry City, Friday 8pm (all times BST)

Manchester United’s summer transfer business has focused on recruiting in central midfield. It will be interesting to see who Michael Carrick selects in two key roles for the first game of the season. Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans have been present for more of pre-season than Kobbie Mainoo, who did not play a minute for England at the World Cup and was a late returner to Carrington after a holiday. Carlos Baleba surely will not have arrived in time to start at Hull. Mainoo is in the best position in the long term but if Carrick decides to ease him into the season, it would be intriguing to see how Santos and Tielemans team up, the stress test for a new partnership that could provide the perfect balance of defensive awareness and ability to move the team up the pitch. Will Unwin

Hull City v Manchester United, Saturday 12.30pm

Ipswich clearly learned a lot from what Sunderland did a year ago, as they went out and bought a lot of players. The Black Cats quickly moulded their 19 acquisitions into a successful unit but at least they had the positive of a head coach in Régis Le Bris who had his feet under the table. Gary O’Neil is the new man at Portman Road and he has 12 signings – at time of writing – to potentially use for the opener. The record arrival, Emersonn, who has moved to Portman Road from Toulouse, is the most eye-catching of those who have been acquired. The Brazilian has an underwhelming career goalscoring record and a few question marks hanging over his head. Even though it is their first game, Ipswich need to pick up points at home, and to do so require a striker who can cause problems for defenders. How quickly Emersonn adapts will be critical for the Tractor Boys’ success this year. WU

August is the season for debuts and no one will be more satisfied than Oliver Glasner when Ousmane Diomande steps over the white line at the City Ground. Glasner wanted the Ivorian centre-back to replace Marc Guéhi at Crystal Palace, six months before the England defender departed for Manchester City. Diomande, a £34m buy from Sporting, is expected to line up in a back three for Nottingham Forest against Leeds, when the Austria midfielder Xaver Schlager, who played for Glasner at Wolfsburg, could also make his Forest bow. Diomande is a quick and physical defender but another aspect of his appeal is his aerial power at set pieces. “They’ve both played Champions League football and they are used to competing for titles,” said Glasner. “They can add this winning mentality.” Ben Fisher

Cristian Romero has taken his maverick brand of defending to Atlético Madrid, upsetting neutral Premier League watchers. His compatriot Marcos Senesi has arrived to shore up things at the back as Roberto De Zerbi desperately tries to steer Spurs away from a third straight season of battling relegation. The all-action Romero had his qualities as a leader and defender but never felt dependable, which is what most want from a centre-back and captain. Senesi impressed during his time at Bournemouth, rarely making headlines but proving himself a calm presence at the back. The Argentinian is good on the ball and will be more adventurous in possession than his countryman. He is yet to be sent off in three seasons as a Premier League player – Romero was dismissed twice in 2025-26 alone, not to mention a one-match ban and a fine for his behaviour towards a referee. His calmness will improve Spurs. WU

It is surely not how Unai Emery envisaged the countdown to Aston Villa’s season-opener at Brighton on Sunday – and certainly not as he enjoyed the afterglow from the club’s Europa League triumph over Freiburg in May. The manager has an extraordinary number of problems. Take the midfield where the new signings João Gomes and Johan Manzambi are injury doubts. Note: Amadou Onana is a long-term casualty while Youri Tielemans has been sold. It goes on. Emery is about to lose Ezri Konsa to Arsenal – in a summer where Villa have also sold Morgan Rogers and Lucas Digne. They are trying to move on Emi Martínez, while the future of Ollie Watkins is uncertain, with Al-Hilal circling. For the cherry on top, the rampaging 17-year-old striker Brian Madjo is a fitness concern. Emery’s teamsheet will be very interesting. Will he pitch the new goalkeeper, Zion Suzuki, who only signed on Wednesday, straight in? David Hytner

Is Enzo Maresca already under pressure after Manchester City’s 3-0 schooling by Arsenal in the Community Shield? Maybe not, but if the Italian’s new team go down at home to Bournemouth on Sunday, you do not have to be a soothsayer to picture the scrutiny that will follow. Maresca and City are enduring a difficult transfer window, with Rodri’s departure to Barcelona the headline, a dizzying blow that has to be shaken off. The new Bournemouth coach, Marco Rose, has faced City six times in the Champions League with Leipzig and Mönchengladbach, and is sure to order his visitors to go for the jugular at the Etihad. City are vulnerable but Maresca can remedy this with a win of any sort. This, after all, is the job many felt he was the obvious choice for. Jamie Jackson

Manchester City v Bournemouth, Sunday 2pm

Kevin Keegan was supposed to have been the guest of honour at St James’ Park on Sunday, but his death from cancer in July means this meeting of two of his old clubs will turn into a tribute to one of English football’s enduring heroes. Keegan’s family will be present to witness an outpouring of love for the former Liverpool and Newcastle forward and (twice) Magpies manager. Once the game kicks off, all eyes will be on Alexander Isak, a St James’ Park old boy whose decision to force a £125m move to Anfield last summer did not go down well on Tyneside. The Sweden striker, making his first return to Newcastle, has much to prove at Liverpool, and now has a new head coach to impress in Andoni Iraola. Newcastle too have a new face in the home dugout, where Matthias Jaissle will occupy the technical area for so long inhabited by Eddie Howe. Louise Taylor

Real Madrid’s two head coaches from last season meet at Craven Cottage, with the focus on Xabi Alonso, rather than Álvaro Arbeloa. The Fulham man, however, may have more to prove in the Premier League. His managerial career has been less prominent than that of his Basque rival – and he has clearly insisted on snapping up talent from the Bernabéu. Gonzalo García and César Palacios have made the trip over from the Spanish capital with Arbeloa. It shows great faith from the former Liverpool defender but it does put extra pressure on the trio, their fates now permanently intertwined. All three need a positive start to show they merit being in the Premier League. Otherwise, it would be very easily to criticise them individually and collectively. WU