Set-pieces? Counter-attacks? Aerial duels? We reveal every Premier League club’s strength and weakness…

ARSENAL

Strength – Attacking down the wings
Although Alexis Sanchez played much of the previous campaign in a more central position, the Gunners were still adept when it came to hurting opponents down the flanks. A move to a back three formation will put the onus on the likes of Hector Bellerin, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and new signing Sead Kolasinac to carry the threat this season, particularly if the aforementioned Chilean were to leave.
Weakness – Stopping opponents from creating chances
Having conceded the most goals (44) and most shots per game (11.4) of any side in the top six last season, there’s no secret that Arsenal’s defensive issues have held them back in recent years. Kolasinac is the only defensive arrival thus far, but protection in front of the backline has often been the problem, and it’s one the club haven’t addressed yet.

BOURNEMOUTH

Strength – Coming back from losing positions
A crucial trait for any side hoping to stave off the drop, the ability to keep their heads when falling behind has seen Bournemouth avoid relegation comfortably in the last two seasons. Ten of their 46 points last season came from losing positions in the 2016/17 campaign.
Weakness – Protecting the lead / Defending counter attacks
One of the Cherries’ main statistical weaknesses, when coupled with their strength of coming back from losing positions, is what makes them so entertaining and unpredictable. Howe’s men dropped 22 points from winning positions last season – which was a joint-high – but will hope Chelsea duo Nathan Ake and Asmir Begovic can help to avoid such lapses.
A look back at some of the memorable moments from the 2016/17 Premier League season

BRIGHTON

Strength – Counter attacks
The Seagulls were flying high at the top of the Championship for much of the previous campaign and certainly owed a great deal to star man Anthony Knockaert, who carried a great threat on the break. Chris Hughton’s men scored the most goals from counter attacking situations in the second tier (six) and will no doubt look to employ a similar tactic against the big hitters.
Anthony Knockaert was a key figure for Brighton during their promotion campaign
Anthony Knockaert was a key figure for Brighton during their promotion campaign
Weakness – Avoiding offside
There were very few flaws to Brighton’s game last season, so we’re knit picking to find a statistical weakness. The way that they played, however, looking to get in behind opposition defences as much as possible, saw them caught offside more times than any other team (118).

BURNLEY

Strength – Aerial duels
Having won the most aerial duels per game by a distance last season, the Clarets weren’t particularly pretty but got the job done at both ends. The loss of Michael Keane – who was second only to Sam Vokes from an individual perspective in terms of aerials won (4.3 per game) – could have an impact at the back but Dyche’s side will be direct once again, that’s for sure.
Weakness – Keeping possession of the ball
As a consequence of their route one approach at times, Burnley would often bypass the midfield and surrender possession to their opponents. It worked well on occasion – they beat Liverpool with just 19.6 per cent possession – but it also limited their creativity. Only Sunderland and Middlesbrough created fewer chances last season.

CHELSEA

Strength – Finishing scoring chances
Boasting the best conversion rate by a distance last season (14.3 per cent), it’s little wonder Chelsea ended the campaign as champions. Although top scorer Diego Costa is set to leave the club this summer, his replacement Alvaro Morata was even more clinical in front of goal last year, converting 27.3 per cent of his chances compared to Costa’s 18 per cent.
Alvaro Morata has an impressive conversion rate
Weakness – Aerial duels
Scraping the barrel to find a weakness for the Blues last season, they did rank bottom in the Premier League for aerial duels won per game (14.2). The arrivals of six foot-plus signings Antonio Rudiger, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Morata do add height to a relatively short squad.

CRYSTAL PALACE

Strength – Aerial duels
Second only to Burnley in terms of aerial duels won per game last season (21.9), Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke’s influence on the side was strong. The Belgian won more from an individual standpoint than any other player by a country mile (8.9 per game), but will new boss Frank de Boer play to that style?
Weakness – Keeping possession of the ball
The Eagles’ appointment of former Ajax manager De Boer is a real statement of intent to change their identity in the upcoming campaign. The Londoners ranked among the bottom six teams for possession and pass accuracy last season, which the Dutchman will demand isn’t the case this time around. The signing of youngster Jairo Riedewald was a step in the right direction in that regard, with the versatile defender completing a whopping 92.4 per cent of his passes in the Eredivisie.

EVERTON

Strength – Creating chances using through balls
With only Chelsea and Manchester United registering more assists from through balls last season (six), the Toffees profited from the vision of a number of players, though interestingly want away Ross Barkley was not among them in that regard. The signing of Davy Klaassen, who picked up nine assists last term, will add further creativity to the midfield.
Phil Jagielka gave away three penalties last season
Weakness – Fouling in dangerous areas
With the likes of combative midfielders Idrissa Gueye, Morgan Schneiderlin and Gareth Barry in the ranks, fouls are an inevitability but Everton conceded too many in their defensive third. Only Jose Fonte conceded more penalties than Phil Jagielka (three) last season. The arrival of Michael Keane as an heir apparent to the captain could be a move to remedy that issue.

HUDDERSFIELD

Strength – Creating long shot opportunities
With 45 per cent of their shots coming from distance last season, the Terriers’ shoot on sight policy was clearly not as desperate as one might immediately assume, given their shock promotion. Loan signing Aaron Mooy, who has since signed permanently from Manchester City, was key in general play but also in terms of finding space around the box, firing off 51 shots from beyond 18-yards.
Weakness – Finishing scoring chances
The fact that Huddersfield had so many efforts from range certainly attributed to what was a modest conversion rate at best, with 8.8 per cent enough to rank down in 17th. With top scorer Elias Kachunga netting just 12 goals, adding firepower has been a priority this summer, along with height in attack through newcomers Laurent Depoitre and Steve Mounie, who scored 14 for Montpellier in the previous campaign.

LEICESTER

Strength – Counter attacks
They may not have been able to exploit their greatest weapon from the 2015/16 campaign as often last time around, but Leicester are still a side very much geared up to play on the counter. Only Chelsea had more attempts on the break last season (17) – it seems that’s the secret to success – and the Foxes as of yet have retained master exponents of the skill Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy.
Jamie Vardy has profited from Leicester’s counter-attack play
Weakness – Defending against attacks down the wings
Having conceded the highest proportion of their total shots allowed (38 per cent) from wide positions last season, it’s clear that opponents look to exploit the Foxes’ defensive fragility on the flanks. Danny Simpson hasn’t had any competition at right-back, and the club have only signed players to strengthen the spine of the side thus far.

LIVERPOOL

Strength – Creating chances through individual skill
With a raft of attacking talent already at their disposal, the signing of Mo Salah will certainly strengthen Liverpool’s ability to bamboozle defences next season. Philippe Coutinho plays a vital role in that sense, completing more dribbles than any team-mate (70), so the Brazilian’s future – he has been targeted by Barcelona – will be key to ensuring that the Reds can kick on once more under Jurgen Klopp.
Weakness – Protecting the lead
It may not have been the worst tally in the division but the fact that Liverpool surrendered 18 points from winning positions last season ensured they were never really in the title race. That was the most in the top six by some distance – Tottenham lost just five points from such situations by comparison – though defensive reinforcements have been thin on the ground to help to close out victories.

MANCHESTER CITY

Strength – Counter attacks
It may seem a surprising statistic for a Pep Guardiola side, given the importance he places on possession, but fast transitions are also key to the Spaniard. City scored the second most goals from counter attacks last season (six), with Bernardo Silva arriving to help bolster an already electrifying attack.
Man City have signed a number of defenders this summer, including Kyle Walker
Weakness – Stopping opponents from creating chances
The defensive side to City’s game was the real issue last season, conceding considerably more goals than Chelsea and Spurs above them, so it’s little wonder the majority of this window has been spent recruiting defensive reinforcements. Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy are likely to be the first choice full-backs next season, with Danilo also adding further competition, though the club are yet to move for a new centre-back thus far.