THE RACE FOR THE TITLE

THE RACE FOR THE TITLE

I am going to be slightly left-field and say that Arsenal are going to win the Premier League this season. I know it won't be a view shared by many, but I have a few reasons. They are a lot better than they have been in recent seasons and Arsene Wenger's acquisitions are the changes that needed to be made.

In Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal have signed the complete player. He can fill a number of different roles, you can play him through the middle, off the front or wide. He has the X-Factor, if you like.

Mathieu Debuchy has come in at right-back, they have competition in goal and when you add in Ramsey, Giroud, Ozil and Walcott I am quite excited about Arsenal. So they are my tip to win what will be a very competitive league.

Chelsea have the slight edge over Manchester City. Last season was transitional, with Jose Mourinho returning but Cesc Fabregas and Drogba will improve them, as, of course, will Diego Costa. His World Cup was not great, but I think he is the striker Chelsea have been missing.

We know all about City, they have a terrific squad and a wise old owl of a manager in Manuel Pellegrini. I don't think there is much between all three and, as champions, it could easily go City's way.

The fourth place I think will go to Manchester United. They have a big gap to bridge from last season, but Louis van Gaal is England's most compelling story this season and you will see a more dynamic United. From a Scots perspective, Darren Fletcher is clearly in the manager's plans, which is great.

THE RACE FOR EUROPE

I think the team that will miss out on the top four is Liverpool. Having lost lose Luis Suarez, it is only natural that it will take them a bit of time to adjust and it will be hard to get as many new players in and settled from the off.

There will be a good battle between Liverpool, Everton and Spurs.

I spent a bit of time with Roberto Martinez in Brazil this summer and he has some terrific ideas.

There is Scottish interest there with Steven Naismith and I know Roberto feels Steven is a player he can depend upon and who has stepped up and stepped forward recently.

The last team in that fight will be Spurs. There is a lot of quality in that squad and Mauricio Pochettino, like Roberto, is an innovative manager who has found English football to his liking.

I would expect those three to be the best of the rest if you like. You never know in the Premier League, there could be someone else that jumps in there, but I would think those are the top seven teams in the country.

THE BATTLE TO BEAT THE DROP

From a Scottish point of view, Paul Lambert has a lot of problems to deal with at Aston Villa as Randy Lerner looks for a way out.

In the last few years Villa have gone from a team that we thought could challenge for Europe to one looking over their shoulder at the bottom of the league.

I don't think Paul, or Alan Irvine at West Brom, will be relegated, though.

My three to go down are Burnley, QPR and Hull. Burnley might be able to get by on the adrenaline of being back in the top flight but they haven't spent significantly, and while QPR have players and a manager who have been over that course before, I think they will fall a bit short.

And that leaves us with Hull. I know they got to the FA Cup final and I think Steve Bruce is a fantastic manager. But it is maybe Hull's turn to go back down.