This year, too, the season hailed as the greatest by football connoisseurs has come to a close. The 2025/2026 Premier League, which we attempted to predict at the start of the year, concluded with a deserved victory for Arteta’s Arsenal. The truth, however, is that a lot has happened during this season: disappointments, overtakings and counter-overtakings, and changes on the bench. Speaking of which, the focus of this long summer transfer window will be precisely the coaching moves, ahead of the 2026/2027 season.
THE CHALLENGE BETWEEN THE DISCIPLE AND THE MASTER: FINALLY ARTETA
Without a doubt, England’s personality of the year is Mikael Arteta. The Spanish manager deservedly prevailed over his old mentor, Pep Guardiola, and the UCL final is coming up soon. As we’ve seen throughout the season, Arsenal prevailed for very specific reasons. The role of strategist Jover, who changed the tactical interpretation of set pieces, was crucial. However, Arsenal achieved similar results thanks to a combination of factors: the completeness of the squad, the individual talents, and the dressing room. The truth is, without Arteta, it wouldn’t have been the same.
The manager demonstrated great leadership, holding his nerve when City beat the Gunners and came close to overtaking the top spot in the league. Arteta also conquered the demons of his past, defeating his old friend Guardiola, and now effectively becoming a top global manager.
MORE DISAPPOINTMENTS THAN SURPRISES: LIVERPOOL AND CHELSEA DO BAD, UNITED GOOD
This year’s Premier League has seen a reversal of the previous season. Rising teams like Nottingham, Crystal Palace, Newcastle, and Chelsea have experienced a significant decline. Chelsea, in particular, had truly started out as a potential title contender: their Club World Cup victory and the discovery of young Joao Pedro—the season’s MVP—had impressed everyone. As usual, the management ruined everything the Blues had built, firing Maresca, and ending Chelsea’s dreams of glory.
Liverpool is a different story. The Reds were the clear favorites going into the tournament, having invested heavily in the transfer market. Despite this, some signings just don’t seem to have gelled: Wirtz has struggled to adapt to the pace and play of the English league, while Ekitike, in addition to injuries, has failed to establish the right chemistry with Gakpo and Isak. Meanwhile, the two Manchesters performed very well. United were expected to return to the cup competition, but their third-place finish exceeded even the most optimistic expectations, and here too, the credit goes to manager Michael Carrick. Had it not been for the mediocre start of City and United, the league would have turned out differently.
THE LEAGUE’S FUTURE WILL BE DETERMINED BY COACHING CHANGES
The 2025/2026 season effectively marks a watershed moment for coaching positions. Arteta at Arsenal and Emery at Aston Villa remain the only untouchable managers, while the rest of the squad is undergoing a complete overhaul. Guardiola leaves City after 10 years of success and trophies, and they entrust the team to Enzo Maresca. Chelsea, for their part, is relying on Xabi Alonso, hoping to finally find continuity in their project. Manchester United, Tottenham, and Liverpool will continue with Carrick, De Zerbi, and Slot, respectively, although, as we’ve seen, changes are just around the corner.
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