LONDON CALLING
IT’S back and it’s bigger than ever.
The Premier League has a depth that is simply ridiculous.
Ask your mates to predict the top four or who is going to be relegated.
I have not got a clue really, nor does anybody else.
That’s a compliment to the competition, strength in depth and the money that all make the Premier League a must-watch all over the world.
However, there is an elephant in the room.
If the Premier League is as competitive as we would all like it to be, surely we need a title race and a new name on the trophy.
I think it would be fantastic if it was not just Manchester City or Liverpool competing for the big trophies.
There are seven out of the 20 top flight clubs from London.
Yet of those seven it’s only been Chelsea in the last couple of decades that have acted like a top club with their five titles and Champions League wins in 2012 and 2021.
When it’s London calling in the Premier League the conversation now seems to be about top four and the lucrative Champions League.
The best thing that could happen this season would be if the two big north London clubs started acting like it.
They have the look but they lack substance and I thought it was actually quite sad how thrilled Spurs fans were when holding off Arsenal to finish fourth instead of fifth last May.
Quality
Looking at Arsenal last night, they certainly possess the quality but over a long, hard season of Premier League battles, does Mike Arteta have the gravitas and strength of character to not only charm the dressing room but to see if can he get them over the line and deliver a league title or Champions League spot?
He always spends big but all those clueless football executives who wear the emperor’s new clothes will no longer be able to keep making excuses if this is to be the season when Arsenal stop being nearly men.
This year is different because, somehow, 12 months ago, Jorge Mendes was able to get his first client — Nuno Espírito Santo — the huge gig at Spurs, at the magnificent and refurbished White Hart Lane.
They were in a complete mess.
However, Arsenal had such a bad start to the season, expectations were low and, let’s face it, these clubs’ fans no longer expect to be in the title race.
That is the hope that no longer exists in many experts’ view.
Whilst Conte and Spurs look a good fit and the fans are thrilled, I don’t think Spurs will be champions until Daniel Levy leaves the building.
Bukayo Saka is the real deal at Arsenal but I just think that the team over the course of a hard season will be too nice, too soft and not damned hard enough.
I believe that when we all watched Arsenal listening to the chants of You’ll Never Walk Alone on the documentary before a 4-0 hammering, it was a tad embarrassing.
Reality
But not as embarrassing as the reality that it’s not just Arsenal and Tottenham who need to see their clubs challenging for the title, it’s the whole of the Premier League.
Arsenal have the team, Spurs the manager but I don’t believe either club has the total package that will ensure a north London breakthrough.
I’m also not sure that either club is in safe hands with their keepers.
Yes, we are excited and it was brilliant watching the game from Selhurst Park last night but what the Premier League needs is for a London club to be right up there with Europe’s best consistently.
Despite the turmoil at Stamford Bridge, in a funny sort of way under Thomas Tuchel and new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly, it’s almost been business as usual.
This is why Chelsea are still London’s best bet of being there and lifting the trophies on the glory days.
However, when a new American owner takes over a football club, it’s not long until they want to bring in their own man.
Tuchel will need to have eyes in the back of his head if he is to produce another miracle.
I’d love to see a London club win the Premier League title but I don’t envisage it happening this season.