With the transfer market dominating the headlines over the past few months, it's hard to believe that football, yes real unadulterated Premier League football, will be beginning this Friday night.
It would be understandable if you're feeling lost after the frenzied whirlwind that is the off-season; the player movement, manager's getting shunted and all sorts of controversy that distracts you from the season ahead.
To ensure that your informed and ready for the new campaign, we here at Tribal are rolling out season previews for all 20 of the Premier League teams over the next four days.
Today's edition: AFC Bournemouth, Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion, Burnley, Chelsea
Manager: Eddie Howe
Notable Ins: Asmir Begovic, Jermain Defoe, Nathan Ake, Connor Mahoney
Notable Outs: Callum Buckley, Jake McCarthy, Alexander Neale
First five matches: West Brom (A), Watford (H), Man City (H), Arsenal (A), Brighton (H)
Possible Starting XI: Begovic, A. Smith, Cook, Ake, Francis, Stanislas, Arter, Cook, Pugh, King, Defoe
Their season will be a success if...they secure another top-half finish and qualify for Europe
Their season will be a failure if... all their hard work results in a relegation dog-fight
Breakdown
Bournemouth stunned everyone when they not only stayed in the Premier League after last season, but managed a ninth placed finish. The loveable underdogs went a step further in their development this summer. Eddie Howe went out and got himself some seriously talented and experienced players for the upcoming season.
Chelsea duo Nathan Ake and Asmir Begovic solidify and add depth to the Cherries defence, while Jermain Defoe arrives for his second stint at Dean Court. Look for the 34-year old to provide Bournemouth with some much-needed goals to help propel them further up the table this season.
From administration less than ten years ago to potentially qualifying for European football, it's been some ride for the south-coast club and it does not look like it will be stopping this season.
Prediction: 8th
Manager: Arsene Wenger
Ins: Alexandre Lacazette, Sead Kolasinac
Outs: Yaya Sanogo, Wojciech Szczesny, Chris Willock, Stefan O'Connor, Kostas Pileas, Kristopher da Graca
First five matches: Leicester (H), Stoke (A), Liverpool (A), Bournemouth (H), Chelsea (A)
Possible Starting XI: Cech, Koscielny, Monreal, Holding, Ozil, Xhaka, Bellerin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Sanchez, Lacazette
Their season will be a success if... they prove the naysayers wrong and mount a serious title challenge
Their season will be a failure if... they are out of title contention by Christmas
Breakdown
Arsenal endured their worst season in twenty years in 2016/17, with inconsistency and instability causing them to miss out on a top-four finish. Gunners fans will be hoping club-record signing Alexandre Lacazette can provide the cutting edge in front of goal that they so severely lacked last campaign. Sead Kolasinac, who arrived on a free transfer from Schalke, looked the part in the Gunners' Community Shield win over Chelsea.
Wenger will be hoping the Shield victory helps give his side some momentum ahead of their tricky start to the season. Trips to Stoke, Liverpool and Chelsea in the space of a month will provide a difficult challenge. For all the hoopla this off-season has thrown up, with Wenger's re-signing and Sanchez's failure to commit to the club, what has flown under the radar is that Arsenal have a serious chance of challenging for the title this season.
Not having Champions League football could prove to be a blessing in disguise for the north London club, just like it has done for the past two champions, Leicester and Chelsea. If they can stay healthy, they are in with a shot - if they can sign one or two more players, then get excited Gooners.
Prediction: 4th
Brighton & Hove Albion
Manager: Chris Hughton
Ins: Pascal Gross, Mathew Ryan, Josh Kerr, Markus Suttner, Mathias Normann
Outs: David Stockdale, Elvis Manu, Chris O'Grady, Casper Ankergren
First five matches: Man City (H), Leicester (A), Watford (A), West Brom (H), Bournemouth (A)
Possible Starting XI: Ryan, Bruno, Duffy, Dunk, Murphy, Stephens, Kayal, March, Gross, Hemed
Their season will be a success if... they somehow manage to survive what will be do-or-die from the opening match
Their season will be a failure if... they've got nothing to lose, unless they do a Derby a la 2007/08 and lose all their pride
Breakdown
Brighton were unfortunate not to win promotion to the Premier League as Championship title winners, being pipped on the final day of the season by Newcastle. Australian international Mat Ryan became the club's record signing after moving from Valencia for £9m, however, the club's other acquisitions leave a lot to be desired.
Their current squad lacks Premier League experience, with Steve Sidwell and Glenn Murray as the only players boasting significant playing time in the top-flight. Fortunately, Seagulls manager Chris Hughton does have experience in the top flight, having spent time with Newcastle and Norwich.
The former Tottenham midfielder will have his work cut out for him however as Brighton look destined for a one-and-done campaign.
Prediction: 20th
Manager: Sean Dyche
Ins: Jon Walters, Charlie Taylor, Jack Cork, Phil Bardsley
Outs: Michael Keane, Joey Barton, Tendayi Darikwa, George Boyd, Paul Robinson
First five matches: Chelsea (A), West Brom (H), Tottenham (A), Crystal Palace (H), Liverpool (A)
Possible Starting XI: Heaton, Bardsley, Long, Taylor, Ward, Brady, Defour, Cork, Hendrick, Gudmonsson, Vokes
Their season will be a success if... they can climb further up the ladder
Their season will be a failure if...they fail to stay up after so much hard work
Breakdown
Sean Dyche had done a wonderful job keeping Burnley in the Premier League last season, but the Englishman will have a much tougher mission this time around. The Clarets are void of leadership and experience, with Michael Keane departing for Everton and Joey Barton suspended for the season.
Jon Walters and Phil Bardsley join from Stoke, while Jack Cork will bring a fresh pair of legs in the midfield after his move from Swansea. It will be a grind all season for Burnley and their first five games could potentially leave them with no points.
Away trips to Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool seem incredibly unfair to the Lancashire club and it could prove to be the catalyst for their relegation if the results don't go their way.
Prediction: 18th
Manager: Antonio Conte
Ins: Antonio Rudiger, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Alvaro Morata, Willy Caballero
Outs: Asmir Begovic, Nemanja Matic, Christian Atsu, Juan Cuadrado, John Terry, Dominic Solanke, Bertrand Traore, Nathan Ake, Nathanial Chalobah + loan deals
First five matches: Burnley (H), Tottenham (A), Everton (H), Leicester (A), Arsenal (H)
Possible Starting XI: Courtois, Cahill, Luiz, Azpilicueta, Kante, Fabregas, Moses, Alonso, Pedro, Willian, Batshuayi
Their season will be a success if...qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals while staying in title contention at home
Their season will be a failure if...they exit at the group stage in the Champions League
Breakdown
The defending champions have had a strange offseason. Eden Hazard got injured whilst training with Belgium, then the whole Diego Costa saga blew up, and is continuing to drag on, creating an unnecessary distraction for the Blues.
It hasn't all been rain and thunderstorms though; Antonio Conte will be buoyed by his summer arrivals, even if it took longer than he wanted, but such is the current market. Alvaro Morata has been brought into replace the departing Costa, while Antonio Rudiger adds even more steel to Chelsea's impenetrable defence. Tiemoue Bakayoko has seemingly been brought in to replace Nemanja Matic, who signed for Manchester United. There is some scepticism surrounding the decision to allow the Serbian to leave, but if the 22-year old starts well, it will not matter.
With matches against Tottenham, Everton, Leicester and Arsenal to follow after Burnley's visit to Stamford Bridge on opening day, the Blues have been handed a tough start to their title defence. Despite their influx of talent, the Blues departures are numerically significant, which has left their squad bare. If this doesn't change before the end of the month, expect Conte to struggle to balance his side on two major fronts - at home and in Europe.
But this is Chelsea, the champions, and with their squad and wily Italian manager, they will be still in it come seasons end.
Prediction: 3rd
In tomorrow's edition: Crystal Palace, Everton, Huddersfield, Leicester City, Liverpool
