Leicester boss Craig Shakespeare hopes Leicester can defeat Arsenal on Friday night

As a countdown, let’s do a run-down of the five things to look forward to in the next nine months.

United were reliant on Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who scored 17 league goals – and 28 all told – before a cruciate knee ligament cut short his season in April.

The first game of the season has not been something Arsenal have been able to take advantage of in recent years. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t do it but we are not there yet.

But if you’re wondering why the Manchester clubs have been dominating headlines in England, it’s because the rest of the big teams have been doing little online.

“[This is] Because the football decisions will be made by technological analysis”. The arrival of Alexandre Lacazette at a club record £52 million this summer put them well ahead of sides lower down the list such as Newcastle United (7th with £769 million) and West Ham United (10th with £530 million). On his own, how will Rooney feel lining up against Manchester United?

There will be optimisim surrounding the club’s Community Shield triumph but they will have to do what they haven’t done after their last two Community Shield wins and build on early season success. The Belgian global gives Chelsea the x-factor and will have a huge role to play if the club are to successfully defend their title this time around.

Shakespeare’s first match as permanent Leicester manager will see the 2015-16 Premier League champions travel to Arsenal on Friday. There are encouraging signs from his early performances, but he’ll need to be even better when the Premier League starts.

That is a bold move from the Gunners as it would make the former Barcelona star the highest paid player in the Premier League were he to sign. Which Mourinho act will the Italian copy?

All the teams have a shot at the title as evidenced by Leicester City’s triumph two seasons ago, but the focus will be on Conte ahead of what he labeled his “toughest challenge” yet.

The full scope of his influence and importance in Manchester United’s performance last night was a single black mark standing over his display – a slip in the build-up to Real Madrid’s second goal between Bale and Isco when both Matic and Lindelof were left behind with a silky one-two.

“We have to play Champions League”.

One to watch: Tiémoué Bakayoko – Chelsea splashed around £40million on the France global and his arrival persuaded the club they could allow Nemanja Matic to leave for Manchester United. The season is long, we can’t wait.

But he is no closer to shifting those deemed surplus to requirements as he believes many Premier League clubs are in the same position.