What pre-season has revealed before the Premier League begins

Friendly football can create a convincing first impression, but it cannot settle the questions opponents will soon test. Across the Premier League, new coaches are refining their ideas, squads are still carrying weak spots and several clubs must begin without players who have barely featured. The useful measure is not simply who won in pre-season, but who looks equipped for the demands that follow.

Early momentum needs context

Arsenal have found immediate output from Christos Tzolis. The winger recorded six assists and one goal across six pre-season games, with two assists in the Community Shield against Manchester City. His previous campaign for Club Brugge brought 51 goal contributions in 52 games, giving Arsenal a strong reason to consider how he fits their attacking plans.

Brentford ended their programme with a striking 7-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt after a 4-2 victory at Rennes. Their summer spending has included Mamadou Sangare, Callum Wilson and Jaidon Anthony, while last season’s European near-miss remains a clear incentive. The scale of a friendly result does not guarantee anything, but it has given Keith Andrews’ side an encouraging finish.

Leeds have also seen Dominic Calvert-Lewin make an impact, producing three goals and two assists in pre-season. He scored 14 Premier League goals last term despite joining Elland Road without a pre-season, and Harry Wilson now offers another option in an attack Daniel Farke wants to sharpen.

That does not make pre-season a reliable forecast. The strongest signs tend to be practical ones: a new signing understanding his role, a forward finding combinations, or a side showing that it can respond when a match changes. Friendly results can sharpen confidence, but the opening fixtures will reveal whether that confidence rests on something repeatable.

New ideas require time

Chelsea have experimented under Xabi Alonso, beginning with a 4-2-3-1 before turning to a 3-4-3. The latter shape delivered a 3-0 win over AC Milan and remained in place against Real Sociedad, with Maxence Lacroix at the centre of the defence. Morgan Rogers, Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer give the forward line genuine threat, though the balance at wing-back remains unsettled.

Manchester City face a related challenge under Enzo Maresca. Antoine Semenyo supplied five assists in pre-season, but City’s 3-0 Community Shield loss to Arsenal raised the question of whether the midfield can consistently feed wide players such as Semenyo and Jeremy Doku. A tactical intention is only useful when the team can support it.

Manchester United have pushed their defensive line higher and shown more appetite to press and counter-press. Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo have looked refreshed, but the 4-2 loss to AC Milan also reinforced the need for depth at left-back if Michael Carrick’s side are to sustain that approach.

The transition is not only about formations. A higher line asks more of defenders, while a system built around wide players needs a midfield able to release them at the right moment. The early weeks will test whether those details have become habits or remain ideas still being learned.

Change and absence shape the opening weeks

Aston Villa must absorb the departures of Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans alongside injury concerns for Joao Gomes and Brian Madjo. Amadou Onana and Johan Manzambi are also sidelined, while Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins had no pre-season after extended World Cup breaks. Unai Emery’s first task may be building familiarity quickly.

Newcastle’s reset is more extensive. Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes have departed, with Matthias Jaissle taking over after Eddie Howe left. Four of five new signings, costing almost £140m combined, are aged 20 or under. That profile offers potential, but also leaves a side in transition as it tries to keep its longer-term ambition intact.

Tottenham are unbeaten in pre-season and their six arrivals have impressed. Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes have both scored, while Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke looked solid in the 3-0 win over Hoffenheim. Yet Micky van de Ven, Pedro Porro, Mohammed Kudus and Destiny Udogie did not feature in pre-season, so the positive mood arrives with important caveats.

Availability can alter the picture faster than any tactical plan. Clubs with new faces and returning players need their opening selections to provide continuity, particularly when injuries have interrupted preparation. A promising summer can still leave a manager choosing between a familiar arrangement and the changes he wants to introduce.

Where the squad remains exposed

Everton have added Hayden Hackney and Christian Norgaard to midfield, but right-back remains an issue if Jake O’Brien or James Garner are required to cover again. Brennan Johnson offers pace for David Moyes’ counter-attacking plans; the concern is whether the squad can avoid relying on makeshift solutions.

Hull scored once across their final three friendlies and must cope without Jack Butland, who is likely to be out until Christmas after arm surgery. Nobel Mendy, Konstantinos Tzolakis and Lucas Herrington are among the new arrivals, but the promoted club need attacking answers quickly.

Crystal Palace’s new manager Pierre Sage has had preparations interrupted by World Cup absences. Matheus Franca’s hat-trick against Swindon and his goal with Ismaila Sarr in the 2-1 win over Fulham have offered encouragement, but defeats to Bromley, Lens and Freiburg underline the work still required.

These are the sorts of gaps friendly football can expose without resolving. Everton may have to manage a positional shortage, Hull need more threat in front of goal, and Palace are trying to establish direction while key players have had limited time together. The league will soon put each concern under more pressure.

Research: This article uses the archived evidence supplied for this story. Story inspiration: Sky Sports' original report.