Premier League : How ready are the heavyweights to overcome their faults and reestablish their paramountcy ahead of return

The Premier League returns following the end of the FIFA World Cup tournament, which saw the top teams go into an unusual mid-season break because the mentioned tournament was slated for winter months.

Premier League teams, our focus in this article have enjoyed different fortunes in the aftermath of the break. While it was a break that came at the right time for a team like Chelsea and their new manager, Graham Potter, it was case for some others.

In this articles, we will be looking at the impact of the break, and how prepared the top teams are ahead of the restart.

Also with the winter transfer window a matter of days before opening, we will also look at the possible targets of these teams to help them make up for the injured players as well as increase the depths and quality of their options.

With Arsenal in an unfamiliar position, at least that has been the case since they won the league unbeaten in thr 2003/04 season while Newcastle United’s project as apparently skyrocketed, much to the delight of the fans in Tyneside.

However, the second half of the season is always more challenging and here we will access the possibility of these teams maintaining their good runs, while some others seek return to their known positions that seem to be getting out of grasp.

Arsenal

Arsenal have been here before but they look better and capable of overcoming the storm that wiped their predecessors and fortune seems to be on their side because the transfer window is not far away.

The emergence of the news of Gabriel Jesus’ knee injury has obviously not been well received by Arsenal, Mikel Arteta and Arsenal fans world wide and to worsen matters, he is expected to be out for at least three months.

The Brazilian has had a promising start to life at the Emirates and the fans are now dreaming of the possibility of winning the Premier League title, which has eluded them since the Invincibles in 2004.

However, just as it had happened in the past, with the likes of Edouardo da Silva, Robin van Persie and Aaron Ramsey to mention but a few have all been victims of unfortunate injuries, when they Gunners were in good positions to challenge for the league title.

This time, it looks like it is the turn of the 25year old, who has now been ruled out to return in March following the injury sustained in Brazil's final group game against Cameroon in the FIFA World Cup.

Eddie Nketiah is expected to deputize in the next couple of games before the transfer window opens as fans look out for their club doing business to replace the injured striker.

If Arsenal wants to do short-term business, it couldn't get any better for them as a player of Joao Felix profile could be available on loan until the end of the season and will slot in seamlessly into the Arsenal XI, replacing Jesus.

Felix will bring more balance to their game, just like Jesus and unlike Eddie Nketiah, he is more talented in all areas and his transition with Gabriel Martinelli out wide and in the No.9 position will be astonishing.

He appears to be a better finisher than Jesus and Nketiah so a deal for the Portuguese will really make much sense if Arsenal can pull it off.

They currently lead City by five points but knowing their rival to be almost too good for any side in the league, Arsenal must leave no stone unturned in the transfer window to put themselves in a good position to protect their advantage.

Emile Smith Rowe is close to return from his long-term injury and according to Arteta, the young Englishman is already back in training and won't be long until we see him back to full fitness while Reiss Nelson is ruled out for the coming weeks.

Manchester City

Dias and Phillips absence to cause for alarm at the Ethiad but City need to press advantage when required because not even the average teams in the Premier League want to be overrun at intervals.

This was the case in the first half of the campaign as Pep Guardiola’s side surprisingly dropped points against the like of Newcastle United and Aston Villa when they had taken the lead and Liverpool when Jürgen Klopp's side was there for the taking.

They also suffered a loss at home to Brentford in their final league game before the break, which Guardiola would have so much appreciated because they appreaed to be losing their mojo, while rivals continue to get better.

Fitness wise, the Citizens are never really caught unprepared and even now that both Ruben Dias and Kalvin Phillips have been ruled out of the festive fixtures, it is no cause for alarm as they have several others lining up to take their place.

City have everyone but the mentioned two and that will be no troubles for them. Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland are back to business having combined for goals in their two games after the break and this is another reason for optimism as they case Arsenal in the hope of defending their title.

Chelsea

Chelsea is one of the teams in dying need of that break as the team was a total shambles in the end of the first round of action, departing on the back of consecutive loses while they are also winless in their last five league games.

Under Graham Potter, they have gone through all the emotions despite only being in the early days of the former Brighton man. They have gone on an impressive run of wins and also had back to back draws before finally losing in each of their previous three league games.

The break also afforded needed time for Reece James, who is arguably the club's best player to recover from an injury while it was the same for big money signing in the last summer, Wesley Fofana.

Unfortunately, the French defender will not be back when the league restarts having suffered a fresh injury in a friendly against Brentford during the break. He is now expected to be out for the next couple of weeks.

N'Golo Kanté will also not be back but the club will surely be nursing plans of permanently replace him due to his fitness issues lately and for his contract which runs out at the end of the ongoing campaign.

Chelsea have everyone available bar the French duo, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ben Chilwell, while both Hakim Ziyech and Mateo Kovacic will miss the clash with Bournemouth due to extended holidays having take part in the FIFA World Cup third place play-off.

Chelsea are very active in the market and are securing exciting prospects for the future. David Datro Fofana and Andrey Santos could both about to be the latest addition to the collection in the early weeks of the transfer window but fans will be more interested in first team signings.

Christopher Vivell was recently announced as the club's technical director and fans will be eager for impact before the end of the winter transfer window because they are not used to the eighth position, which they currently occupy in the league.

Liverpool

Just like Chelsea, Liverpool is another team who will be thankful the break has come at the time it did because Jürgen Klopp's side lacked rhythm and the ability to maintain consistency in their rare positive results.

For a side that was so close to winning the quadruple last season, Liverpool are currently sixth in the league, closer to the bottom of the table than they are to the top of it. Who could have thought ?

Their inability to invest in the midfield last summer is impacting their season while injuries to important players is also not helping matters for the Reds that never walk alone.

Both Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz will not be available until at last February while Bobby Firmino, Kurtis Jones, Trent Alexander-Arnold and James Milner are all doubt for the restart fixture against Aston Villa on Monday evening.

They continue to be linked with moves for midfield players as they are really short of options in the department. The loan signing of Arthur Melo has obviously not go well with the player yet to really represent the club and is set to spend time on the sidelines.

Liverpool will need to spend big in January to match the strength of the other top teams and rescue their season, which is slowly turning into a nightmare.

Enzo Fernandez, Mohammed Kudus and several others have been linked with the club and Jürgen Klopp has to pick one or two once the window opens because the season is long, as could get even longer without proper additions.

Manchester United

If it could be considered a loss, Erik Ten Hag will contemplate signing a replacement for the departed Cristiano Ronaldo but it will be very unreasonable to not considered it a loss, the departure of the club's top scorer in the last season.

Yes, Ronaldo has not contribute this season but the club needs a traditional No. 9, which they currently don't possession at the moment.

As said by the Dutch tactician earlier in the month, the club will take advantage in the transfer window when the right opportunity presents itself and with the crop of players currently on the books, a striker will be priority if there's an opportunity.

The reason for optimism ahead of restart is that no major injury concern for the club. However, there are players who are yet to return from the World Cup break and there is Jadon Sancho, who has chosen to continue training on his own until he is mentally okay to play for Manchester United.

If United will sign anyone in January, it will most likely be in the attacking position. Cody Gakpo and Joao Felix are on radar and albeit they are like the options the club currently have, there is no denying they are better quality.

A deal for Felix will most probably be loan while they will face a lot of competitions should they pursue an interest in Gakpo. Dusan Vlahovic could also be available if Juventus’ crisis persists and the Serbian will be the missing No.9 in the set-up.

Just one loss in their last 13 competitive games, no denying there are still loopholes in their game but result wise, they have been able to get the job done. There is need to strengthen because their unconvincing performances could pave way to run of poor results.

United return to league action against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday needing a win to strengthen their grip on fifth place as they continue their hunt for a place in the top four.

Tottenham Hotspur

Arguably the side with the best squad depth in the division, injury and suspension to Richarlison and Rodrigo Bentancur respectively should not be a concern for Antonio Conte when his side travel to Brentford on League return.

An early kickoff match will see them leapfrog Newcastle United to third with a win but knowing they are coming up against a side that defeated Manchester City at the Ethiad before the break, it will not be easy defeating Thomas Frank's side.

Tottenham have a very good squad to do that and more but that is not always enough, but Spurs have not dropped points in most league games where they are expected to win this season.

Their only loses have come against Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool and Newcastle United, the later who has been more than just an average team so far.

No pressure on the club to do business in January as any addition will only be bonus. They look okay on papers and it is now down to Conte to play his cards well and get them where they want to be, both domestically and in Europe.

Newcastle United

Newcastle United must be surprised at how fast their project is growing as finding themselves in third position after almost half way through the season, when they have already played both Manchester clubs, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, appeared too big a dream to have.

However, they have surprisingly matched this teams and are also able to show they are levels above the mid-table teams so far. Only Liverpool have been able to defeat Eddie Howe's side after 15 games.

Newcastle have made themselves a team to watch out for in the second half of the season and in the transfer window, they are also a team to look out for because they have the cash and are willing spenders.

Their impeccable form has unsurprisingly excite their new owners, who will be looking to invest more in January in order to maintain their position and ensure a strong finish to the season.

Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi