EPL Rumours: Arsenal, Manchester United, City All Contending for the Title?

The best league in the world has been won by only two clubs in the last seven years.

Says a lot about the competition at the top doesn't it?

While the earlier statement is true it doesn't give the exact picture of the fight for the Premier League title. Arsenal were in a strong position to win the title in two of those seven years and Liverpool once, but both blew their chances away with self-inflicted wounds. So, what will the new season bring?

It's tough to be in the prediction business and the many changes afloat at the top clubs don't make the job any easier. A quick look at the possible contenders:

Arsenal - The whole world knows about the Gunner's frailties at the back and not much has changed in the current transfer window.

In fact the the proverbial hole at the back has got even bigger with Frenchman Gael Clichy leaving for the greener pastures of Eastlands. While there is almost a month before the window close—considering Wenger will go for a cut-price nobody—it appears unlikely that anyone will come in and make an immediate difference.

The Arsenal front line has improved with the addition of Ivory Coast international Gervinho who scored a brace in a preseason against Cologne.

The imminent departure of Nicholas Bendtner could only be better for the team, as it will clear out a big ego from the dressing room without any serious loss of talent.

The biggest upheaval that the Gunners might see is in the middle of the park where they could still lose Captain Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. While Arsene Wenger seems to be doing well to tie down the duo for at least another season it's difficult to bet on them until the transfer window closes.

If Fabregas and Nasri do leave and Arsene Wenger ends up without a major signing at the back, Arsenal will struggle to stay in the top four and winning the title will be a far fetched dream. If the duo stay and a couple of quality defenders are signed then the Gunners are a challenger.

Chelsea - Another season, another manager and another title challenge. Chelsea are a club always in transition and since the arrival of an insanely rich Russian are now title contenders.

Andres Villas Boas—or AVB or the new Special One—has to manage a team that saw a tumultuous second half of the last season, starting with the departure of Ray Wilkins. Hopefully that tumultuous time has ended with the departure of Carlo Ancelotti.

While AVB has followed a somewhat similar path to Chelsea that Jose Mourinho did, the going might not be as good as it was the original Special One.

Jose was already a Champions League winner with Porto when he arrived at Chelsea, he inherited a strong squad in it's prime and a blank cheque book.

The core of the squad has remained the same over the years and has seen many more summers added to them. In the past season John Terry and Peter Cech were erratic with their high standards and Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba were either injured or out of form for too long. Now that they are all in their 30's a similar trend cannot be ruled out.

Michael Essien might be out for a while again and John Obi Mikel has not lived up to expectations. Among the last season's signing, Torres was a flop but can bounce back and David Luiz should be rock solid in his first full season.

Overall, Chelsea are a good bet but might struggle if they do not spend the cash again.

Liverpool - The Scousers have spent big since the arrival of Kenny Dalglish and should see some reward for it. 

However, a good part of the money will seemingly go down the drain even Henderson or Carrol fail. Unfortunately, considering how few prospective English talents make it really big—due in large part to their self destructing culture—there is a good chance they will.

The likes of Luis Suarez, playing his first full season, Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing should add some real quality in the midfield and forward line too.

The Reds are a good bet for the top four and if King Kenny's magic works like it did last season then who knows what might happen!

Manchester United - The Red Devil's have already spent big and have given no indication that their spending is over—even after winning four titles in five years.

He might not accept it, but Alex Ferguson does realise that he was lucky to win the title last year. Not that United didn't deserve to win, but the overall quality at the top of the league was relatively poorer compared to a last few seasons—the beating that was handed out to the English Champions by the Spanish and European Champions was clear proof.

While Ferguson's eventual aim seems to bridge the gap in class between his team and the European Champions, he is also rebuilding his squad to maintain the gap between United and the other title contenders—namely Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool who have either spent big or have shown a strong tendency to do so.

If Ferguson does land Samir Nasri or Wesley Sniejder both of whom have been linked heavily with the club at different times, it will probably be enough to keep the other title contenders at bay for another year.

Manchester City - City announced their arrival in the top end of the league table in style with a third place finish and the F.A Cup trophy.

Roberto Mancini was often criticised last year for being too conservative in his team selection considering the talent at his disposal. While Mancini was generally conservative, I think it was more down to the need of the club to win at all cost and break into the top four. Now that City are there with the so called "big boys" of English football that might change.

The signing of Sergio Aguero should add further flair to an otherwise efficient team. City already have David Silva whose Spanish flair was visible last season.

The limitless talent that the club have signed up in the last two seasons has put them with at least two to three top quality internationals fighting for each position.

If the club don't win anything or don't challenge for the top honours then it will be purely down to the management.

The article first appeared on http://www.isport.in