Arsenal

Strength of team/squad

Thomas Vermaelen, a left-footed centre-half signed from Ajax for £10m, featured in the first four pre-season matches and looked composed, albeit against limited opposition. He has suffered a slight hamstring injury, however. Tomas Rosicky made a welcome return against Barnet, playing the first 45 minutes, and has featured at the Emirates Cup against Atlético Madrid and Rangers. Arsène Wenger will consider the fit-again Rosicky almost as a new signing, together with Eduardo, who has got three pre-season goals to his name. The big setback has been Samir Nasri breaking a leg in training. He will be out for three months. Theo Walcott has not yet played after his England Under-21 exertions in June. Wenger remains under pressure to spend, having offloaded Kolo Touré and Emmanuel Adebayor.

Tactics

Wenger has preferred a lone man in attack with two players in support – granted the licence to drift wide or inside – and a solid midfield three. Cesc Fábregas has been encouraged to break forward from his position within the trio. Against Hannover and Atlético, Robin van Persie was the focal point of the attack – he was preferred to Nicklas Bendtner, who played in one of the support roles. Andrey Arshavin, who has had an excellent pre-season, has floated from the left.

One to watch Jack Wilshere

The 17-year-old midfielder inspired Arsenal to win the FA Youth Cup last season and, having made eight first-team appearances, three of them as a starter in the Carling Cup, has been earmarked by Wenger for further progress. Small but tough, he fits easily into Arsenal's fluid attacking style and was man of the match in both the team's Emirates Cup games, scoring twice against Rangers yesterday.

Manager Arsène Wenger

After 13 seasons at the club, the job does not get any easier. An often beleaguered figure last term, he is desperate to make a more assured start this time but three of their first four league fixtures are away: Everton, Manchester United and Manchester City. There is also the small matter of the Champions League qualifying round to negotiate.

Club's global appeal

Chasing pre-season revenue or cracking the US or Asian markets has never been to Wenger's taste and, as usual, he retreated to Austria with his squad for an intensive pre-season training camp and a sprinkling of friendlies. During their time away, the Gunners faced amateurs from the Austrian fourth division, Hungary's most unpronounceable team and Hannover. They stepped up their preparations at the Emirates Cup this past weekend and play Valencia away next Saturday. David Hytner

Chelsea

Strength of team/squad

Despite the lack of a marquee signing Chelsea's squad retains its depth and class, even with Joe Cole and Michael Ballack undergoing rehabilitation from injury. Daniel Sturridge and Ross Turnbull are useful additions, the latter a back-up goalkeeper, and Yuri Zhirkov – on the basis of his excellent debut against Milan – will offer balance, defensive surety and spring upfield, whether he is employed at full-back or, more likely, in midfield. Deco, for now, and Ricardo Carvalho remain at the club, with the centre-half eager to put last season's toils behind him.

Tactics

Carlo Ancelotti intends to play a diamond in midfield, capped initially by Frank Lampard as the playmaker and with Mikel John Obi likely to be at its base. There will be a pair of strikers – gone, apparently, are the days of 4–3–3 with Didier Drogba barging forward with only wide men for company – with the full-backs asked to supply the team's natural width. Luiz Felipe Scolari tried something similar but never really struck a balance between rip-roaring attack and defensive industry. The Italian in Ancelotti will not put up with frailties if the full-backs are caught too often upfield and the channels left exposed. The team's play may prove far less direct than in recent seasons, with Ancelotti placing the onus on retaining possession in midfield, all neat triangles and overlaps, rather than seeking out Drogba's brawn and muscle through the middle.

One to watch Daniel Sturridge

Manchester City may regret letting Daniel Sturridge slip away. The teenager actually stands more chance of making a mark at first-team level with Chelsea than he did at Eastlands given City's recent outlay on forwards. He impressed against Seattle Sounders with a debut goal and assist, unnerved Internazionale at times in California and should have added to his tally against the Mexicans.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti

Ancelotti's English is improving though it remains a work in progress. There appears to be a real determination about the Italian to expand his vocabulary and first impressions suggest he will not fall into the same trap as Scolari, whose English rather stagnated once competitive games came thick and fast.

Club's global appeal

The US appears to have taken to Chelsea. This was the Premier League club's fourth visit to the country in five years for pre-season and, at last, they have made their mark. Chelsea shirts littered the considerable crowds in Seattle, Pasadena, Baltimore and Arlington, where the team played. Attendances were magnificent. The club is making an impression in those parts. Dominic Fifield

Liverpool

Strength of team/squad

It was hard to read too much into either game of Liverpool's Asian tour – Rafael Benítez used 26 players against Thailand and 24 against Singapore. The late return of the Spanish contingent after the Confederations Cup limited them to cameo roles and Steven Gerrard missed the trip due to his court appearance. Liverpool's only major new recruit, Glen Johnson, showed signs of attacking nous but the right-back suffered an achilles injury against Thailand and missed the match in Singapore. The striker Andriy Voronin featured following a year on loan at Hertha Berlin but despite scoring, he failed to shine and does not look capable of easing the burden on Fernando Torres. Another option is desperately needed and with Martin Skrtel injured and Sami Hyypia gone, defensive cover is also vital. Lucas and Ryan Babel impressed, giving fans hope they are finally ready to repay the faith shown in them by the manager. The expected departure of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid will leave a major gap in midfield and Benítez will need an adequate replacement.

Tactics

Benítez played with two up front in Asia but when the serious action begins he is unlikely to deviate from the system that worked so well last season, with Gerrard playing just behind a lone striker, Torres. The acquisition of Johnson highlights the manager's desire to play with attacking full-backs next season in a bid to avoid another string of frustrating home draws.

One to watch Krisztian Nemeth

The Hungarian striker was one of the stars of the reserves' title triumph in 2007-08 but his progress last season was wrecked by injury. Now fit, the 20-year-old displayed his finishing ability with two goals against Singapore.

Manager Rafael Benítez

The Spaniard is determined to kick on from last season's second-place finish, with the Premier League arguably the priority for most at Anfield. Benítez grew increasingly frustrated in Asia at the constant questioning about Alonso's future but remained bullish about his club's title chances, saying the heat and humidity were ideal for knocking his players into shape.

Club's global appeal

Fears about the travelling were eased as the week-long tour proved a success both on and off the pitch. As well as playing two matches, they trained twice a day and packed in a host of public appearances. The players' every move created a frenzy, emphasising the commercial opportunities for the club in this part of the world. The remarkable passion for Liverpool in Asia will have been greatly strengthened by the trip. David Rose

Manchester City

Strength of team/squad

The frustration for Mark Hughes is that two of his six summer signings, Roque Santa Cruz and Carlos Tevez, have not had a minute of action in pre-season so far, but the manager is entitled to think that it has been an "exceptional" summer – the one downside being John Terry's apparent change of heart about leaving Chelsea and the inability, as yet, to sign Joleon Lescott from Everton. On the plus side, Gareth Barry has impressed on the club's three-match tour to South Africa and Hughes now has at least two accomplished players for every position in midfield and attack.

Tactics

Hughes favoured a 4–2–3–1 system last season, occasionally switching to a more defence-minded 4–3–2–1 when the team were playing away from home against strong opposition. This season he has a far more talented squad and may alter his formation accordingly. The side now have a target man, meaning they should be better at holding up the ball in attacking positions. Expect to see experiments with 4–1–3–2 and also a more orthodox 4–4–2.

One to watch Carlos Tevez

"Stupid" is the word that one senior Manchester United official has used to describe the striker's defection to a club that are not even involved in the Europa League. Tevez certainly has a point to prove and his other role, as a symbol of City's ambition, seems to have increased since the provocative Welcome to Manchester billboard that led Sir Alex Ferguson to describe City as being guilty of "arrogance" and being a "small club with a small mentality".

Manager Mark Hughes

Hughes has been bristling with confidence on the back of the summer spending as well as the departure of so many unneeded squad players. The word at City now is that the atmosphere in training is as good as it has ever been under the current management. Hughes has handled Ferguson's criticisms impeccably and he has also broken up the Brazilian quartet that was considered too cliquish by the club's management, with Jo joining Everton on a season's loan and Elano going to the Turkish club Galatasaray.

Club's global appeal

The tournament in South Africa was not the most prestigious event and there was none of the hysteria that accompanies United's visits to south-east Asia, for example. But City are clearly proving to be a draw these days. The club still have to play Rangers at Ibrox, as well as hosting Celtic, and they have also been invited to play Barcelona at Camp Nou on their first blank Wednesday of the new season. Daniel Taylor

Manchester United

Strength of team/squad

Without Cristiano Ronaldo, United occasionally lacked a bit of star quality on a tour to the Far East and Germany, particularly when the standard rose in the Audi Cup in Munich. The mantra is that United will be "difficult to beat" and they retain a formidable first-choice defence, not least in the centre, with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. Michael Owen showed with four goals in four games on the Asian tour that he is less of a gamble than some imagine and the most expensive summer signing, Antonio Valencia, made a positive impression with a goal on his debut, against Boca Juniors. Covering the loss of Ronaldo's goals and assists will be key.

Tactics

The Ronaldo years came to be dominated by a 4-3-3 formation but on tour United reverted to 4-4-2. Ferguson was adamant that this season Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney would be used as out and out centre-forwards, although he said this about Rooney a year ago. Interestingly, given how they were once a fixture for England, Rooney and Owen did not play together in any of United's six games.

One to watch Ben Foster

Twenty-six is rather late to be breaking through, but Foster has done a lot of waiting. Ferguson seems convinced by his quality and has said he is "miles ahead" of any other English goalkeeper. However, if Foster is the best keeper in England, then Edwin van der Sar remains one of the best in the world. Granting Foster games in the Carling Cup is one thing, playing him in the closing weeks of a season quite another.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson

Ferguson has joined Geoffrey Boycott, Tony Benn and Alan Bennett as a national treasure. He travelled around the Far East and Germany saying exactly what he thought of Real Madrid, Manchester City and Rafael Benítez. If some people found this unsettling, then it should be remembered that Ferguson is usually right. This time last year in South Africa, Ferguson highlighted Chelsea's ageing squad. That seemed ridiculous when they raced into an early lead, but not when they collapsed in mid-season.

Club's global appeal

Despite the loss of Ronaldo, United's greatest marketing vehicle since David Beckham, the club's appeal shows no sign of slowing. Had the bombing of the team hotel in Jakarta not forced the cancellation of their trip to Indonesia, United would have played in front of more than 400,000 people. As it was, they managed to sell 30,000 tickets in Kuala Lumpur in two days and Rooney duly replaced Ronaldo as the most sought-after player. Tim Rich