Premier League 2025-26 season review: our predictions v reality

What we predicted: Mikel Arteta vowed this would be a “big summer” after finishing as runners-up in the Premier League for a third season in succession and the new sporting director, Andrea Berta, has delivered on a number of signings in his first transfer window. The question now for Arsenal supporters is whether Martín Zubimendi, Christian Nørgaard, Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyökeres, Cristhian Mosquera and Kepa Arrizabalaga can help them take that elusive final step to becoming champions for the f

What we predicted: Plenty of money, about £300m, has been spent over the past eight months to get City back on track after a disastrous season by their standards. They finished a distant third and lost the FA Cup final, leaving them trophyless. The latest crop of incomings got a brief taste of life under Pep Guardiola at the Club World Cup and all showed promise. After Rodri missed most of last season, it feels as if his fitness will decide the fate of the team. If Guardiola can get him back to his best – and keep him fit – after a horrible injury, then City can feel excited once again. What actually happened : City pushed Arsenal all the way but missed out on the title in the final week. They did, however, win the League Cup and FA Cup, giving Guardiola some silverware in his final campaign at the club. Predictions v reality Manchester United: predicted 9th , finished 3rd What we predicted: The big hope is that Manchester United hit rock bottom last season and things cannot get any worse. Ending up 15th in the Premier League resulted in many executives, fans and players waking up in a cold sweat. Expectations within the fanbase are impressively low, not knowing what to expect from a team that stumbled through an entire campaign. There is no European distraction for Ruben Amorim, allowing him plenty of time on the training ground to get his ideas across. What actually happened : Amorim never did get his ideas across and United sacked him in January, just in time to save their season.

Key points

• What we predicted: Plenty of money, about £300m, has been spent over the past eight months to get City back on track after a disastrous season by their standards.
• They finished a distant third and lost the FA Cup final, leaving them trophyless.
• The latest crop of incomings got a brief taste of life under Pep Guardiola at the Club World Cup and all showed promise.
• After Rodri missed most of last season, it feels as if his fitness will decide the fate of the team.
• If Guardiola can get him back to his best – and keep him fit – after a horrible injury, then City can feel excited once again.