Pressure, squad depth and the challenges ahead of Chelsea, Sunderland and more

Premier League season preview: how Europe, squads and new bosses shape Arsenal, City, Chelsea, Spurs and the rest.

Xabi Alonso may be without European football at Chelsea in the new season, but how much pressure will that heap on him and his team? (Photo credit: BBC)

The Premier League returns with the traditional curtain-raiser in a fortnight between league champions Arsenal and FA Cup holders Manchester City.

This means it's time for us to look ahead to the season to see how teams are preparing for the new challenge. The likes of Sunderland, Brentford, and Bournemouth, who all impressed greatly last season, will once again try to repeat the feat, but are they ready?

Sunderland beat Wrexham in the Championship side's last warm-up game ahead of the new season, which kicks off at the weekend, but going into a new season where they will be involved in European football is a totally different ball game.

Many teams have struggled to balance the demands of both European competitions and their league commitments, and many believe this was a key factor in Tottenham's near-relegation during the season they won the Europa League. You can say the same for Manchester United, whom Spurs beat in that final, and Nottingham Forest last season.

How can Brighton, Sunderland, and Bournemouth, who are all in Europe with lean squads and thin budgets, cope on all fronts? To be honest, some of these sides would prioritize accordingly when the time comes, but you can't stop a man from being ambitious.

Chelsea will be without any European football, having finished in tenth place last season. The Blues would be expected to have domestic trophies in their sights, with new manager Xabi Alonso now adding experience to a squad that failed at pivotal points last season due to youthful exuberance.

Lack of European commitments for big sides doesn't necessarily translate into a silver bullet to success; Manchester United was playing once a week throughout last season and only bounced back in the top four race in the final third of the season. Chelsea must take nothing for granted.

Bournemouth will play Europa League football for the first time in their history. Their 6th-place finish last season was immense for the club, and the joy of their new manager, Marco Rose, would be to elevate the experience with consolidation this season.

Another team with so much to worry about going into the new season is Tottenham. The weight of expectations on their new signing can be damning. With no European football to worry about, Roberto De Zerbi will have the whole week to prepare for games; what difference would that make?

The club has spent money, and they still intend to open the purse for players they believe can help their cause in the new season. It is then important for the Italian manager to fire on all cylinders early on to avoid pressure from groaning fans.