10 weeks after Chelsea won the league at a canter, a recharged Premier League is now just seven days away.
It has been a long summer without the dramas of last year's World Cup - so much so that Chile's historic Copa America triumph and England Women's heartbreaking heroics in Canada seem an eternity ago.
But with the season's traditional curtain-raiser on the horizon, the time has come to weigh up the potential challengers once again.
Arsenal briefly emerged as Chelsea's main challengers for the title last season as both clubs' early season form painted the picture for their respective campaigns. The Gunners were left to rue their sloppy start, while Jose Mourinho's side were able to rely on their relentless succession of points in the first half of the season.
Arsenal's resurgent run in the new year, coupled with the successful defence of the FA Cup has had players and fans dreaming that a first post-Invincibles league title is closer than ever to becoming a reality.
Arsene Wenger's new-found transfer firepower has enabled him to build what some believe to be his best squad since the days of Thierry Henry et al as they look to become the champions' biggest threat in 2015/16.
That firepower is nothing new to their London rivals, however, and while neither side has yet to truly flex their financial muscle this summer, over a decade's worth of consistent, large investment means that Chelsea have a squad and a manager that know what is expected of them.
For this current Arsenal side to challenge, they will have to break new ground, and this is their best opportunity yet. But can they do it?
Arsenal could challenge on the basis of Petr Cech's arrival alone. To have acquired a man of such stature and experience to put between the sticks, not least from the champions themselves, will undoubtedly make them a stronger unit.
While the Czech may not be at the peak of his powers and opting against the now-available No.1 shirt (in favour of an ugly-looking 33), the four-time league champion is not here for his swansong. Petr is a winner. Arsene is a winner. And together, they can make Arsenal winners again.
If you look at the games Arsenal dropped points in last season; Manchester United, Stoke, Swansea - twice, that terrible night in Dortmund, the atrocious collapse against Anderlecht, Wojciech Szczesny's horror show during and after the trip to Southampton and the shambles of the first leg display against Monaco - they were all the product of a chaotic back-line.
Petr Cech provides Arsenal with something they have been lacking for years: a leader, a commander, a true champion. But signing him may only be half the battle.
If John Terry thinks Cech is worth 15 points a year, how much is Thibaut Courtois worth? A 'keeper of just 23 years must be pretty decent to oust such an established colleague with 10 years' more experience. And decent enough for Cech to admit his time at Chelsea was up.
And although his sale across London was more Roman Abramovich's doing than Mourinho's, the Portuguese can take heart from the fact even if former colleague Cech were to make up 15 points for his new club, he would just need to squeeze another win out of his team to get another one over on Wenger, judging by last season's results.
But his comments over the Frenchman's spending (which were wide of the mark) give the sense of a man running scared before a competitive ball has been kicked. To start the mind games this early, even by Mourinho's standards, suggests he may be accepting that Arsenal are close to matching his champions. Very close.
Chelsea have been galloping along nicely since his return two years ago, but Arsenal have made great strides since the years of financial restraints came to an end and are now building up ahead of steam after a near-perfect pre-season.
The 6-0 destruction of Lyon showcased the strength of The Gunners but questions have been asked of whether they need more.
Arsene Wenger has stated he would be happy to take his current squad into the new season, but although that could lead to an improved season, it is a comment that sends alarm bells ringing.
Wenger did similar last year as Mathieu Debuchy and Nacho Monreal did stints at centre-back while Francis Coquelin miraculously emerged from Charlton a man reborn and almost single-handedly turned his side's season around.
Quality backup for the now essential Coquelin is pretty scarce with the increasingly fragile Mikel Arteta and the ageing and unreliable Mathieu Flamini reportedly opting to fight for his place - despite interest from Turkey - providing the only alternatives.
And even though Olivier Giroud averaged a goal in every other game as Alexis Sanchez stormed to the top of the scoring charts last season, a more lethal striker to accompany the already pacey and potent threats of Sanchez and Theo Walcott would push Arsenal closer to a first league title in 12 years.
If they wanted any proof of that they need only to look to their London rivals. Courtois, former sweetheart Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa all came in last summer as Frank Lampard and Samuel Eto'o made away after The Blues' worst Premier League finish under Mourinho. It is a tried, tested and successful plan.
As for Theo being the answer to that, how many more chances does he want? It may be worth guessing not how many goals he will score but how many games will it be until he is shifted back to the right-wing, and admitting that his new contract was really all about the money all along.
The trouble for Arsenal is that Chelsea are the team they are trying to beat, and with Mourinho at the helm, it is hard to see how a newly-crowned Chelsea as pragmatic as any Mourinho team would give the title up so easily.
Those looking for pointers ahead of tomorrow's "friendly" should be reminded of the last meeting between the two sides back when there was something to play for. The moral of that particular story would be not to let Jose get in front of you, or his team will choke you to death until he gets his win and/or clean sheet.
Make no mistake, however good the squad at the Emirates gets, it will be a tall order to knock The Blues off their lofty perch.
But then again, if Bradford can do it, why can't Arsenal?
Come On You Reds!
It has been a long summer without the dramas of last year's World Cup - so much so that Chile's historic Copa America triumph and England Women's heartbreaking heroics in Canada seem an eternity ago.
But with the season's traditional curtain-raiser on the horizon, the time has come to weigh up the potential challengers once again.
Arsenal briefly emerged as Chelsea's main challengers for the title last season as both clubs' early season form painted the picture for their respective campaigns. The Gunners were left to rue their sloppy start, while Jose Mourinho's side were able to rely on their relentless succession of points in the first half of the season.
Arsenal's resurgent run in the new year, coupled with the successful defence of the FA Cup has had players and fans dreaming that a first post-Invincibles league title is closer than ever to becoming a reality.
Arsene Wenger's new-found transfer firepower has enabled him to build what some believe to be his best squad since the days of Thierry Henry et al as they look to become the champions' biggest threat in 2015/16.
That firepower is nothing new to their London rivals, however, and while neither side has yet to truly flex their financial muscle this summer, over a decade's worth of consistent, large investment means that Chelsea have a squad and a manager that know what is expected of them.
For this current Arsenal side to challenge, they will have to break new ground, and this is their best opportunity yet. But can they do it?
Arsenal could challenge on the basis of Petr Cech's arrival alone. To have acquired a man of such stature and experience to put between the sticks, not least from the champions themselves, will undoubtedly make them a stronger unit.
While the Czech may not be at the peak of his powers and opting against the now-available No.1 shirt (in favour of an ugly-looking 33), the four-time league champion is not here for his swansong. Petr is a winner. Arsene is a winner. And together, they can make Arsenal winners again.
If you look at the games Arsenal dropped points in last season; Manchester United, Stoke, Swansea - twice, that terrible night in Dortmund, the atrocious collapse against Anderlecht, Wojciech Szczesny's horror show during and after the trip to Southampton and the shambles of the first leg display against Monaco - they were all the product of a chaotic back-line.
Petr Cech provides Arsenal with something they have been lacking for years: a leader, a commander, a true champion. But signing him may only be half the battle.
If John Terry thinks Cech is worth 15 points a year, how much is Thibaut Courtois worth? A 'keeper of just 23 years must be pretty decent to oust such an established colleague with 10 years' more experience. And decent enough for Cech to admit his time at Chelsea was up.
And although his sale across London was more Roman Abramovich's doing than Mourinho's, the Portuguese can take heart from the fact even if former colleague Cech were to make up 15 points for his new club, he would just need to squeeze another win out of his team to get another one over on Wenger, judging by last season's results.
But his comments over the Frenchman's spending (which were wide of the mark) give the sense of a man running scared before a competitive ball has been kicked. To start the mind games this early, even by Mourinho's standards, suggests he may be accepting that Arsenal are close to matching his champions. Very close.
Chelsea have been galloping along nicely since his return two years ago, but Arsenal have made great strides since the years of financial restraints came to an end and are now building up ahead of steam after a near-perfect pre-season.
The 6-0 destruction of Lyon showcased the strength of The Gunners but questions have been asked of whether they need more.
Arsene Wenger has stated he would be happy to take his current squad into the new season, but although that could lead to an improved season, it is a comment that sends alarm bells ringing.
Wenger did similar last year as Mathieu Debuchy and Nacho Monreal did stints at centre-back while Francis Coquelin miraculously emerged from Charlton a man reborn and almost single-handedly turned his side's season around.
Quality backup for the now essential Coquelin is pretty scarce with the increasingly fragile Mikel Arteta and the ageing and unreliable Mathieu Flamini reportedly opting to fight for his place - despite interest from Turkey - providing the only alternatives.
And even though Olivier Giroud averaged a goal in every other game as Alexis Sanchez stormed to the top of the scoring charts last season, a more lethal striker to accompany the already pacey and potent threats of Sanchez and Theo Walcott would push Arsenal closer to a first league title in 12 years.
If they wanted any proof of that they need only to look to their London rivals. Courtois, former sweetheart Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa all came in last summer as Frank Lampard and Samuel Eto'o made away after The Blues' worst Premier League finish under Mourinho. It is a tried, tested and successful plan.
As for Theo being the answer to that, how many more chances does he want? It may be worth guessing not how many goals he will score but how many games will it be until he is shifted back to the right-wing, and admitting that his new contract was really all about the money all along.
The trouble for Arsenal is that Chelsea are the team they are trying to beat, and with Mourinho at the helm, it is hard to see how a newly-crowned Chelsea as pragmatic as any Mourinho team would give the title up so easily.
Those looking for pointers ahead of tomorrow's "friendly" should be reminded of the last meeting between the two sides back when there was something to play for. The moral of that particular story would be not to let Jose get in front of you, or his team will choke you to death until he gets his win and/or clean sheet.
Make no mistake, however good the squad at the Emirates gets, it will be a tall order to knock The Blues off their lofty perch.
But then again, if Bradford can do it, why can't Arsenal?
Come On You Reds!
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