Arsenal have always been everyone’s punch bag whenever it comes to which of the ‘Big Four’ is most likely to drop out every time one of the title pretenders spends big or improves in a particular season.

Last season it was Aston Villa on people’s lips to push the Gunners out of the top four, a season before it was Everton and a season before that, it was Tottenham yet none of them has managed to do what most Arsenal critics wish for.

Now going into the 2009/10 campaign, debate is back on as who between Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal is likely to give way for big spenders Manchester City to break into the elite class.

Under the ownership of the Arab Sheikhs, City have become the ‘richest club’ in the world overnight, and because of the limitless oil cash to spend on building a champion team, everyone is talking about them breaking into the top four—and again, as always, at the expense of Arsenal!

Mark Hughes and the Arab Sheikhs as well the City fans will be looking at this season as the season to showcase their intentions (of conquering Europe!). But before City kick off their campaign, there are doubts over Hughes’s aptitude not only to win major trophies with City but also to turn them into a major European side, capable of competing with the big boys.

In my view, no chance at all for Man City to break into the Big Four of the English Premier League this season. I think that there are too many egos at that club and Hughes will not be able to control them.

I hope that Robinho actually leaves and have Carlos Tevez, Adebayor, Santa Cruz and Craig Bellamy to fight for the two starting places upfront. Gareth Barry and Stephen Ireland will play in the centre with Shaun Wright Philips on the wing and Shay Given in goal.

Yet, neither Robinho, Adebayor nor Tevez will be contented with a place on the bench for much longer, Cruz could have his own regrets if he doesn’t play regularly, Bellamy may start his usual bad temperaments and the entire dressing room explodes, which is why City will very soon need to find a much more experienced manager with a high degree of man management skills.

City would need to spend at least 200 Million Pounds to even break into the top four but the thing is, will top players want to go there?

Kaka said no to them, Eto’o turned them down (even when they were ready to make him the best paid footballer in the world), John Terry should shun them and stay where he’s idolized. But for players like Santa Cruz and Barry, this is probably their last chance at getting big pay packets. So they took it. Tevez cannot think for himself and will only go anywhere his owners tell him to.

Adebayor needed a new challenge to improve; at Arsenal he seemed to have reached his ‘peak’ but I don’t think he will make any significant progress under Hughes at City.
After that, 2-3 years it’s possible. They have a few more decent players now and Robinho (if he stays for much longer) as the magnet for other big names to join.

If they get into the Europa positions next season, I can see them attracting more, better players for the push into the top 4. If Hughes can’t blend them, they’ll just buy a manager who can.

The way I see it, who is at risk (of dropping out of the Big Four) depends on various things. If Arsenal don’t strengthen and toughen up their squad, they are at risk this coming season from not only Man City but also Villa, Spurs and probably Everton.

In the unlikely event, Liverpool could plummet first, they are too dependant of individual brilliancy than team play, once these individuals fail to click or are out injured, they tend to struggle.

Their star performer Steven Gerrard is not getting any younger and the more he plays the more raged he gets, Torres will one time want to return home and play for Real Madrid or Barcelona once trophies are not arriving at Anfield.

As for Chelsea, they could match City in a Pound for Pound fight so they are unlikely to be usurped unless the Russian gets bored.

Then realistically Arsenal are most at risk, but they are a stable well run club with a good manager and a decent budget along with the ability to attract good players because of how they play the game.

Contact:nku78@yahoo.com