Premier League Glance

A glance at the 20 Premier League clubs ahead of the new season starting Saturday Aug. 16:

ARSENAL

nickname _ Gunners

stadium _ Emirates Stadium (capacity 60,000)

manager _ Arsene Wenger (since September 1996)

honors _ English champion 12 times (last 2004), FA Cup champion (10 times), League Cup twice, Cup Winners Cup once (1994), European Fairs Cup once (1970).

last season _ third

new players _ Aaron Ramsey (Cardiff), Samir Nasri (Marseille), Amaury Bischoff (Werder Bremen)

departed players _ Jens Lehmann (Stuttgart), Mathieu Flamini (AC Milan), Alexander Hleb (Barcelona), Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos).

prospects _ Third again, but a reliance on youth could mean a fourth straight season without a trophy.

ASTON VILLA

nickname _ Villans

stadium _ Villa Park (39,000)

manager _ Martin O'Neill (since Aug. 2006)

honors _ English champion seven times (last in 1981), FA Cup seven times (last in 1957), League Cup five times (last in 1996), European champion (1982), world club champion (1982), European Super Cup (1983).

last season _ sixth

new players _ Curtis Davies (West Bromwich Albion), Steve Sidwell (Chelsea), Brad Friedel (Blackburn), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Nicky Shorey (Reading), Luke Young (Middlesbrough)

departed players _ Luke Moore (West Bromwich Albion), Patrik Berger (Sparta Prague), Olof Mellberg (Juventus), Erik Lund (Goteborg),

prospects _ Top eight again but no nearer top four.

BLACKBURN

nickname _ Rovers

stadium _ Ewood Park (31,400)

manager _ Paul Ince (since June 2008)

honors _ English champion three times (last in 1995), FA Cup six times (last in 1928), League Cup 2002.

last season _ seventh

new players _ Paul Robinson (Tottenham), Julio Santa Cruz (Cerro Porteno), Robbie Fowler (unattached), Danny Simpson (Manchester United, loan), Carlos Villanueva (Audax, loan)

departed players _ Peter Enckelman (Cardiff), Brad Friedel (Aston Villa), David Bentley (Tottenham), Bruno Berner (released), Stephane Henchoz (released)

prospects _ Loss of Mark Hughes a big blow. At best 10th and Ince could even struggle.

BOLTON

nickname _ Trotters

stadium _ Reebok Stadium (28,000)

manager _ Gary Megson (since October 2007)

honors _ FA Cup four times (last 1958), League (best third in 1921 and '25).

last season _ 16th

new players _ Fabrice Muamba (Birmingham), Johan Elmander (Toulouse), Danny Shittu (Watford), Mustapha Riga (Levante)

departed _ Andranik Teymourian (Fulham), Daniel Braaten (Toulouse), El-Hadji Diouf (Sunderland), Ivan Campo (released), Stelios Giannakopoulos (released), Daniel Braaten (Toulouse)

prospects _ Good moves in transfer market but another relegation battle may loom.

CHELSEA

nickname _ Blues

stadium _ Stamford Bridge (41,000)

manager _ Luiz Felipe Scolari (since July 2008)

honors _ English champion (three times, last 2006), FA Cup four times, League Cup three times, Cup Winners Cup twice (last 1998), European Super Cup (1999).

last season _ runner-up

new players _ Jose Bosingwa (FC Porto), Deco (Barcelona).

departed _ Hernan Crespo (Inter Milan), Steve Sidwell (Aston Villa), Claude Makelele (Paris St-Germain), Tal Ben Haim (Manchester City), Khalid Boulahrouz (Stuttgart), Slobodan Rajkovic (FC Twente)

prospects _ Scolari has to work magic to catch Man United.

EVERTON

nickname _ Toffees

stadium _ Goodison Park (40,000)

manager _ David Moyes (since March 2002)

honors _ English champion nine times (last 1987), FA Cup five times (last 1995), Cup Winners Cup (1985)

last season _ 5th

new players _ none

departed _ Lee Carsley (Birmingham), Andrew Johnson (Fulham), Stefan Wessels (released), Jamie Jones (Leyton Orient)

prospects _ Lack of new names could hurt Moyes, may slip to about eighth.

FULHAM

nickname _ Cottagers

stadium _ Craven Cottage (19,250)

manager _ Roy Hodgson (since December 2007)

honors _ none (best league finish 10th in 1960), FA Cup runner-up 1975.

last season _ 17th

new players _ Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough), Zoltan Gera (West Bromwich Albion), Andranik Teymourian (Bolton), Tony Kallio (Young Boys), Bobby Zamora (West Ham), John Pantsil (West Ham), Fredrik Stoor (Rosenborg), Andrew Johnson (Everton), David Stockdale (Darlington), Pascal Zuberbuhler

departed _ Bjorn Runstrom (Odense), Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Tony Warner (Hull), Ricardo Batista (Sporting Lisbon), Dejan Stefanovic (Norwich), Brian McBride (released), Lee Cook (QPR), Ian Pearce (released), Simon Elliot (released), Philippe Christanval (released), Kasey Keller (released)

prospects _ Can't afford to rely upon a repeat of last season's amazing escape.

HULL CITY

nickname _ Tigers

stadium _ KC Stadium (25,000)

manager _ Phil Brown (since January 2007)

honors _ first time in top flight, never won FA Cup, League Cup.

last season _ promoted through Championship playoffs

new players _ Craig Fagan (Derby), Geovanni (Manchester City), Bernard Mendy (Paris St-Germain), George Boateng (Middlesbrough), Tony Warner (Fulham), Anthony Gardner (Tottenham, loan), Peter Halmosi (Plymouth)

departed players _ Henrik Pedersen (Silkeborg), David Livermore (Brighton), Frank Belt (released), Brewster Frizzell (released)

prospects _ Tigers will enjoy Premier League experience and go straight back down.

LIVERPOOL

nickname _ Reds

stadium _ Anfield (45,500)

manager _ Rafa Benitez (since June 2004)

honors _ English champion record 18 times (last 1990), FA Cup six times (last 2001), League Cup seven times (last 2003), European champion five times, UEFA Cup three times (last 2001), European Super Cup (1977)

last season _ fourth

new players _ Phillip Degen (Borussia Dortmund), Andrea Dossena (Udinese), Robbie Keane (Tottenam), Diego Cavalieri (Palmeiras), Emmanuel Mendy (Murcia), David Ngog (Paris Saint-Germain)

departed _ John Arne Riise (AS Roma), Anthony Le Tallec (Le Mans), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray), Peter Crouch (Portsmouth), Danny Guthrie (Newcastle), Scott Carson (West Bromwich Albion), Besian Idrizaj (released), Charlie Barnett (Tranmere)

prospects _ Torres-Keane strikeforce looks interesting but no nearer to title. Top four again.

MANCHESTER CITY

nickname _ Blues

stadium _ City of Manchester (40,000)

manager _ Mark Hughes (since June 2008)

honors _ English champion twice (last 1968), FA Cup winner four times (last 1969), League Cup winner twice (last 1976, European Cup Winners Cup winner 1970.

last season _ ninth

new players _ Jo (CSKA Moscow), Tal Ben Haim (Chelsea)

departed _ Andreas Isaksson (PSV Eindhoven), Sun Jihai (Sheffield United), Geovanni (Hull), Georgios Samaras (Celtic), Bernardo Corradi (Reggina), Emile Mpenza (released), Garry Breen (released), Paul Dickov (released)

prospects _ Hughes arrival could be offset by uncertainty over club's future and finances.

MANCHESTER UNITED

nickname _ Red Devils

stadium _ Old Trafford (76,000)

manager _ Alex Ferguson (since November 1986)

honors _ English champion 17 times (defending champion), FA Cup winner record 11 times (last 2004), League Cup twice (last 2006), defending European champion and three-time winner, Cup Winners Cup (1991), World Club Cup (1999), European Super Cup (1991).

last season _ champion

new players _ Davide Petrucci (AS Roma)

departed _ Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Chris Eagles (Burnley)

prospects _ Has quality and youth to win title for third year in a row, although may need new striker.

MIDDLESBROUGH

nickname _ Boro

stadium _ The Riverside (35,000)

manager _ Gareth Southgate (since June 2006)

honors _ best league position third in 1914, FA Cup runner up (1997), League Cup winner (2004).

last season _ 13th

new players _ Marvin Emnes (Sparta Rotterdam), Didier Digard (Paris St-Germain)

departed _ Mark Schwarzer (Fulham), George Boateng (Hull), Lee Cattermole (Wigan), Luke Young (Aston Villa), Steve Thompson (Port Vale), Fabio Rochemback (Sporting Lisbon), Herold Goulon (released), Lee Dong-gook (released)

prospects _ Southgate unable to get any big names and Boro will finish no higher than last season.

NEWCASTLE

nickname _ Magpies

stadium _ St. James Park (52,000)

manager _ Kevin Keegan (since January 2008)

honors _ English champion four times (last 1927), FA Cup six times (last 1955), European Fairs Cup (1969)

last season _ 12th

new players _ Jonas Gutierrez (Real Mallorca), Danny Guthrie (Liverpool),

departures _ Peter Ramage (Queens Park Rangers), David Rozehnal (Lazio), Emre Belozoglu (Fenerbahce), Stephen Carr (released), Mark Cook (Hartlepool)

prospects _ Keegan has to get good early results, otherwise more frustration. Ninth at best.

PORTSMOUTH

nickname _ Pompey

stadium _ Fratton Park (20,000)

manager _ Harry Redknapp (since Dec. 2005)

honors _ English champion twice (1949, 50). FA Cup champion and twice winner (1939, 2008)

last season _ eighth

new players _ Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Ben Sahar (Chelsea, loan), Glen Little (Reading), Younes Kaboul (Tottenha)

departures _ Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan)

prospects _ Redknapp magic continues but still short of top six

STOKE

nickname _ The Potters

stadium _ Britannia (28,000)

manager _ Tony Pulis (since June 2006)

honors _ never won league or FA Cup, League Cup winner 1972

last season _ promoted as Championship runner up

new players _ Dave Kitson (Reading), Seyi Olofinjana (Wolves), Thomas Sorensen (Aston Villa)

departed players _ Marlon Broomes (released), Russell Hoult (Notts County), Matthew Hazley (Airdrie)

prospects _ Not enough quality to survive. Will be relegated.

SUNDERLAND

nickname _ Black Cats

stadium _ Stadium of Light (48,300)

manager _ Roy Keane (since Aug. 2006)

honors _ English champion six times (last 1936), FA Cup twice (last 1973).

last season _ 15th

new players _ Teemu Tainio (Tottenham), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham), El-Hadji Diouf (Bolton), Steed Malbranque (Tottenham), David Meyler (Cork City), Nick Colgan (Ipswich)

departed _ Andy Cole (Nottingham Forest), Ian Harte (released), Stephen Wright (released)

prospects _ Busy Keane is still rebuilding and could finish around halfway.

TOTTENHAM

nickname _ Spurs

stadium _ White Hart Lane (36,000)

manager _ Juande Ramos (since Oct. 2007)

honors _ English champion twice (last 1961), FA Cup winner eight times (last in 1991), League Cup champion and four times (last in 2008), Cup Winners Cup (1963), UEFA Cup twice (last in 1984).

last season _ 11th

new players _ John Bostock (Crystal Palace), Giovani Dos Santos (Barcelona), Paul-Jose Mpoku (Standard Liege), Heurelho Gomes (PSV Eindhoven), Luka Modric (Dynamo Zagreb), David Bentley (Blackburn)

departed _ Radek Cerny (Queens Park Rangers), Teemu Tainio (Sunderland), Pascal Chimbonda (Sunderland), Robbie Keane (Liverpool), Paul Robinson (Blackburn), Steed Malbranque (Sunderland), Joe Martin (Blackpool), Younes Kaboul (Tottenham)

prospects _ Ramos has built exciting lineup and Spurs should be back up to fifth.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION

nickname _ Baggies

stadium _ The Hawthorns (28,000)

manager _ Tony Mowbray (since October 2006)

honors _ League title 1920, FA Cup five times (last 1968), League Cup 1966.

last season _ promoted as Championship winner

new players _ Roman Bednar (Hearts), Luke Moore (Aston Villa), Kim Do-heon (Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma), Gianni Zuiverloon (Heerenveen), Graham Dorrans (Livingston), Marek Cech (FC Porto), Scott Carson (Liverpool)

departed players _ Curtis Davies (Aston Villa) Zoltan Gera (Fulham), Martin Albrechtsen (Derby), Luke Steele (Barnsley), Kevin Phillips (Birmingham), Ronnie Wallwork (released)

prospects _ Lots of goals at either end but Baggies will be among relegation strugglers.

WEST HAM

nickname _ Hammers

stadium _ Upton Park (26,000)

manager _ Alan Curbishley (since Dec. 2006)

honors _ FA Cup winner three times (last in 1980), best league finish third 1986, Cup Winners Cup winner 1965.

last season _ 10th

new players _ Valon Behrami (Lazio), Jan Lastuvka (Shakhtar Donetsk, loan), Balint Bajner (Liberty Salonta), Holmar Eyjolfsson (HK)

departures _ Bobby Zamora (Fulham), John Pantsil (Fulham), Richard Wright (Ipswich), Nolberto Solano (released), Fredrik Ljungberg (released)

prospects _ Still not good enough to win anything but should avoid relegation trouble. 14th.

WIGAN

nickname _ Latics

stadium _ JJB Stadium (25,000)

manager _ Steve Bruce (since November 2007)

honors _ none. FA Cup (best quarterfinal 1987). League Cup (best quarterfinal 2003)

last season _ 14th

new players _ Olivier Kapo (Birmingham), Lee Cattermole (Middlesbrough), Amr Zaki (Zamalek, loan), Daniel De Ridder (Birmingham)

departures _ David Cotterill (Sheff United), Andreas Granqvist (Groningen), Julius Aghahowa (Kayserispor), Salomon Olembe (Kayserispor), Peter Moore (released), Josip Skoko (released)

prospects _ Bruce should help Wigan hover above relegation zone.