Man Utd out to settle score with Arsenal
Alex Ferguson will be at the helm of the most expensive Manchester United squad ever assembled next week when they open their bid to wrest the premier league title back from double winners Arsenal.
United broke their own British transfer record last month by paying 30 million pounds ($45.96 million) for Leeds United's England defender Rio Ferdinand -- two million pounds more than they handed over last term for Argentina's Juan Sebastian Veron.
Their latest deal stood out in a close season that has been notable for a lack of big money transfers. Most clubs are struggling to balance their books amid the first signs of a bursting financial bubble in the English game.
The general belt-tightening made United's move seem all the bolder, and showed Ferguson's determination to take revenge on an Arsenal side who sealed the league title by beating United in their Old Trafford backyard in May.
This season, bookmakers believe, things will be a little different.
United's best efforts last term were undone by some uncharacteristically poor defending, following Jaap Stam's early departure to Lazio and the often eccentric goalkeeping of Fabien Barthez.
With 35-goal Ruud van Nistelrooy up front and a five-star midfield in David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Roy Keane, Veron and Ryan Giggs, the only missing piece from the United puzzle was a top-class defender.
Ferdinand, who reached new heights with England at the World Cup, should fill that gap.
CANNOT WAIT
Ferguson, who has led United to seven league titles, has made no secret of his feelings about the 2002-03 campaign.
"I'm really looking forward to the start of the new season," he told the British media last month.
"The disappointment of last year will have a positive effect and give us the fighting spirit that is synonymous with Manchester United and the players we have here.
"What we have achieved in the last 11 years is phenomenal and I want to emulate that."
Arsenal's challenge, as laid down by their own manager Arsene Wenger, is to make sure last season's league title was not another one-off.
On the night of their triumph in Manchester, the Frenchman heralded a shift of power in the English game.
"United dominated last season, and for two seasons before that," Wenger said. "But we want to win it again now and show we are a great side."
Arsenal were certainly a great side last season, their rapier passing game cutting many opponents to shreds within the first 20 minutes of matches, while the highs and lows of form and injury were evened out by the performances of Thierry Henry, Freddie Ljungberg, Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pires.
Now they start their first season for 19 years without Tony Adams, and with a score to settle in the Champions League where they have so often failed before.
Though the title again looks destined for either Arsenal or United, as it has been every year since Blackburn Rovers won it back in 1995, the competition from Liverpool and Leeds United will again be tough.
LIVERPOOL'S CHALLENGE
Liverpool's signing of Senegal striker El Hadji Diouf will add extra spice to an attack led by England pairing Michael Owen and Emile Heskey, while a close-season operation for Steven Gerrard should restore the midfielder to his full powers.
The Terry Venables effect cannot be underestimated at Leeds, who looked title contenders halfway through last season and could well clinch a prized Champions League place this time.
For the likes of Newcastle United and losing FA Cup finalists Chelsea, a domestic trophy is well within reach, while for the others, including Kevin Keegan's newly-promoted Manchester City, the name of the game will be survival.
At a time when television money flowing into the English game is beginning to ebb, the spectre of first division football will haunt many premier league chairmen in the months ahead.
