How Are Premier League Teams Performing in Their Pre-Season Friendlies?

As the 2026-2027 Premier League season approaches its scheduled start, analysts and fans at Phswerte are dissecting a chaotic summer of transfers and revealing pre-season fixtures. The reigning champions, Arsenal, spent heavily to acquire Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle. Pairing him with Declan Rice creates a formidable double pivot; Guimarães registered 46 line-breaking passes last season, placing him firmly in the league's top five. With Martin Ødegaard and Mikel Merino also in the mix, their midfield appears dominant, a dynamic further amplified by Rodri's departure from title rivals Manchester City.

Their on-pitch preparations, however, have yielded mixed results. On August 1, 2026, Arsenal defeated Girona 4-1 in a pre-season match at Estadi Montilivi, but just days later on August 5, Real Betis beat them 3-1 at Aviva Stadium. They later drew 1-1 against Como at Emirates Stadium on August 12. These uneven performances stem partly from a fractured defensive line. Center-back William Saliba is sidelined with an injury that will keep him out until November, meaning defensive chemistry remains their most pressing vulnerability ahead of opening day.

Manchester City faces an even starker transition following the exit of legendary manager Pep Guardiola. The midfield takes another massive hit with Ballon d'Or winner Rodri widely expected to formalize a move to Barcelona. Though City added Elliot Anderson and reportedly maintains interest in Enzo Fernández, replacing Rodri's tactical intelligence and pitch coverage is a steep challenge. While they found some pre-season success against a K-League XI and Atletico Madrid—highlighted by a strong showing from new arrival Omar Mamoush—new manager Enzo Maresca pointed out that early tactical sessions lacked up to nine key first-team players, including Erling Haaland, complicating their readiness.

Across town, Manchester United's midfield is undergoing its own restructuring. Casemiro has moved on, making way for Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. Up front, Joshua Zirkzee claims the starting striker role following Rasmus Højlund's exit, forming an intriguing attacking left-side partnership with Marcus Rashford. They are also actively targeting David Raum from Leipzig to reinforce the left flank. Down in London, Chelsea is looking to rebound from a turbulent campaign by bringing in Morgan Rogers and Maxence Lacroix. The ongoing uncertainty regarding Enzo Fernández’s status leaves their starting configuration up in the air, though an August 11, 2024, 1-1 draw against Inter Milan showed structural promise. Without the burden of European fixtures this season, a lighter schedule could work strongly in their favor.

Other clubs face contrasting fortunes. Tottenham Hotspur has been the summer's most aggressive spender, committing over £237 million to their squad. Much of that went toward a £100 million deal for Sandro Tonali and an £85 million move for Mateus Fernandes. They had earlier demonstrated their attacking potential when they defeated Bayern Munich 3-2 in a friendly match. Conversely, despite a 1-0 victory over Stade Brestois in a pre-season fixture, Newcastle United is buckling under financial constraints, losing three key players and their manager, pointing toward a difficult season. Crystal Palace enters the Europa League off a Conference League triumph; they secured Dwight McNeil and Takehiro Tomiyasu but lost defensive anchor Lacroix to Chelsea, leaving their depth highly questionable for a grueling two-front campaign.