Nonetheless, the rest of the matches will go on as scheduled later today. And, with the beginning of a new season come new expectations for teams and their players. With over £288,000,000 spent by Premier League clubs so far this summer, there are plenty of new faces in new shirts. Both these new faces and the players held over from last year will decide the fate of their clubs. Here are my picks for the 5 players to keep an eye on for 2011-12 campaign.
5. Andrei Arshavin - Arsenal FC
The diminutive Russian has been an enigma at Arsenal. There have been times when he has completely taken over a match, for instance, his four goal display at Anfield two years ago. Other times, it seems like Andrei Arshavin does not even want to be on the soccer pitch. With the impending sales of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri to Barcelona and Manchester City, respectively, the Gunners will need somebody to provide offense input. Arshavin would be the obvious answer, since he has shown on occasion that he can be among the world's best. Arsenal really have no choice, considering their young English prodigy Jack Wilshere lacks the experience to shoulder the load just yet. So, with the coming departures of Fabregas and Nasri, it will be up to Andrei Arshavin to provide Arsenal's attackers with scoring chances and insert creativity at the top half of the lineup this season. Arsenal fans better hope that Arshavin has improved his fitness and worked on his consistency issues, or it could be a long season for the faithful at the Emirates Stadium.
4. Didier Drogba - Chelsea FC
In previous years, suggesting that a healthy Didier Drogba could start the season on the bench for Chelsea would probably get you verbally harassed and scolded by most followers of the Barclay's Premier League. Yet, unlike previous years, this may be a reality at Stamford Bridge this season. Under Carlo Ancelotti last year, the Ivorian sniper saw some of his playing time reduced and this continued after Chelsea splashed the cash to sign Spaniard Fernando Torres from Liverpool. In addition to Torres, the Blues have Nicolas Anelka, a new and improved Daniel Sturridge (who impressed while on-loan at Bolton Wanderers last season), and another Ivorian forward in Salomon Kalou on the books under new manager Andre Villas-Boas. It will be interesting to see if this season will be the resurgence of Drogba in West London or if he continues to lose playing time and move down the pecking order.
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| After a lackluster and injury plagued 2010-11, Drogba will need to re-gain his confidence early in the season |
3. Brad Friedel - Tottenham
The Achilles Heel of Spurs for the last few seasons has been its goalkeeping. Howlers by Paul Robinson, Carlo Cudicini and habitual error-machine Heurelho Gomes have demoralized the club and its supporters time and time again. The club has lacked a big game keeper, that could steal a match against the Manchester United's and Chelsea's of the world, for sometime. Until now, that is. Harry Redknapp's superb acquisition of American Brad Friedel from Aston Villa (on a free transfer) will now give Spurs the steady hands at the back that they have been longing for. But, will the Spurs leaky defense hold up and aid its new keeper this season?
2. Sergio Aguero - Manchester City
Kun Aguero is no second coming of his father in law, Diego Maradona, but then again, that may be too much to ask any young Argentine. In 5 years at Athletico Madrid, Aguero formed a formidable partnership with Diego Forlan and hit the back of the net 74 times. After a couple years of being linked to Chelsea, Aguero moved to Manchester City last month in big £35 million move. Aguero now joins a star-studded line-up in the blue side of Manchester, where money continues to flow in from its Dubai based owners. Yet, most of the team's established strike force (Carlos Tevez, Roque Santa Cruz, Emmanuel Adebayor, and Craig Bellamy) all look to be on their way out of Manchester by the end of month. This will put pressure on the Blues' young strikers: Mario Balotelli, Edin Dzeko and specifically Aguero, who is the only proven superstar of the three.
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| Copa America MVP Luis Suarez looks set to conquer the EPL this season |
1. Luis Suarez - Liverpool
Any of the soccer experts that still doubted the football pedigree of Luis Suarez after last year's World Cup in South Africa were completely silenced last month. The Uruguayan hit man led his nation to victories in the Copa America tournament over Argentina, Mexico and eventually Paraguay, helping Uruguay claim its first Copa title since 1995. 2011-12 will be Suarez's first full season at Anfield and if he can stay healthy, it looks like he will make it a memorable one for Reds fans. Some may even forget about a certain Fernando Torres by the end of this campaign.
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