The new Premier League season gets underway Friday, and there is no doubt that Arsenal are the team to beat.The new champions open their title defense against Coventry City, who return to the top flight after a 25-year absence. Arsenal could hardly have sent a stronger message ahead of kickoff, beating Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield. They are now best priced at +130 with Caesars to retain the title, while Betfair price them at 6/5 in the UK odds market.Manager Mikel Arteta has offered an interesting twist on the usual challenge of defending a championship. Asked how Arsenal will approach the season, he has said they would not try to defend their title — they would attack the next one. It feels like an appropriate mentality for a side that has retained its key players, added depth and enters the campaign with both stability and momentum.Arteta is now the Premier League’s longest-serving manager, having been at Arsenal since 2019. And with Pep Guardiola stepping down at Manchester City, the landscape has changed significantly.Three storylines to watch ahead of this seasonGeorge Edwards and Rachael TindeCity are next in the betting at around +350, and Betfair 16/5, a slightly surprising stance for a club that has won eight Premier League titles since their first in 2012. But there is plenty of uncertainty around the Etihad. Guardiola is gone, star midfielder Rodri has departed, and there is ongoing upheaval across several positions as new boss Enzo Maresca reshapes the squad.