As Arsenal's usher in the new Premier League season against Leicester City at the Emirates today, there remain numerous questions and expectations from the coming season.

Unlike the last season -- where Antonio Conte, Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho had entered their first season with Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United respectively and were expected to adjust to their new surroundings -- this time around there is expected to be little in the way of a learning curve.

Although one could say that there was next to learning curve for Conte then as he marched to the Premier League title with no hiccups along the way. The Italian came in and took the league by storm, upstaging the more hyped Mourinho and Guardiola along the way as his side finished some distance ahead of second-placed Tottenham Hotspurs.

Prior to the last season, the buzz was all around two of the highest-profile managers in the world arriving to do battle in Manchester and although that buzz has now gone, expectations have only been heightened as the duo splashed the cash on their team.

Guardiola was one of the most heralded managers in the world following the exploits of his all-conquering Barcelona side, but his European struggles with Bayern Munich and the decline of his patented 'tiki-taka' football have seen many critics label him a 'chequebook manager'. However he has wielded that chequebook thoroughly this time around as well, breaking the record for a defender twice in the span of weeks.

On the other hand, Mourinho will be entering the period that has never failed him -- the second season. He has won the league title in each of his second seasons at Chelsea, Inter Milan – where he added a Champions League in his second year as well -- and famously at Real Madrid in 2011-12 when he ended Barcelona's stranglehold over the La Liga trophy after four barren years for Los Blancos. Even after a disappointing third-place finish on his return to Chelsea, he went on to conquer the league in the second season.

Chelsea looked a settled side last season, but Conte knows that there is a bull's-eye on his back and he has repeatedly requested the Chelsea board to help him shore up his team; pleas which have fallen on deaf ears.

Where the Manchester clubs have spent upwards of 200 million pounds on their teams, Chelsea -- who have a small squad as it is -- have brought in just Tiemoue Bakayoko and Alvaro Morata, both talented players but unaccustomed to the rigours of the Premier League.

Manchester United perhaps dealt the most fierce blow to the Blues before the season even began, prying away defensive midfielder Nemanja Matic and reuniting him with Mourinho, under whom the Serbian had his best season till date. Alongside that they have also added Romelu Lukaku in attack and Victor Lindelof.

Paul Pogba will also be expected to come of age this season. The 105-million-euro signing had a good first season, but fell well short of what was expected of a then world-record signing. Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, among others in United's young core, will be expected to step up as well.

Meanwhile, City have added Ederson, who is believed to be the answer to their goalkeeping troubles, and Bernardo Silva to midfield. Kyle Walker, signed from Spurs, and France international Benjamin Mendy will improve their fullback positions, a key position in Guardiola's playbook. They will also have a fully-fit Gabriel Jesus to back up the firepower provided by Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane.

But if you're wondering why the Manchester clubs have been dominating headlines in England, it's because the rest of the big teams have been doing little online.

Tottenham, second last season, have not signed a single player yet; instead hoping that their young core will shift gears and perhaps take them to the league. More realistically however, Tottenham have contracted the fever that has plagued their North London neighbours Arsenal for years -- satisfaction with being in the top four.

The Gunners themselves however have strengthened in some of their more lackadaisical departments. Alexander Lacazette will add a whole new dimension up front while the retention of Mesut Ozil and, for the moment at least, Alexis Sanchez will no doubt be treated by Wenger as new signings after their worst finish in the past 21 years.

Liverpool are hopeful of keeping Phillipe Coutinho at the club and it is likely that they will do so, but the Merseyside club -- whose only big-name move was the acquisition of Mohamed Salah – will be another team hoping that existing players such as Phillipe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Leroy Sane produce their best consistently if they are to have a shot at the league.

All the teams have a shot at the title as evidenced by Leicester City's triumph two seasons ago, but the focus will be on Conte ahead of what he labeled his 'toughest challenge' yet.