FINALLY the wait is over. We can all stop pretending that cricket is in any form a substitute for football; the shopping trips with the missus on Saturday afternoons, strategically arranged during the off-season, can be sacked off; frustrating rounds of golf interspersed with flying clubs and lost balls can end. Lads, the football tidal wave has arrived and we are about to be swept away.

Yes, those afternoons in front of Jeff Stelling and the boys on Soccer Saturday can begin again. We will rejoice when Paul Merson stumbles through his updates before eventually telling us that our team have scored, and we will despair when Chris Kamara untangles himself from his web of words to reveal that our accumulator has once again gone down the pan in the 13th minute, courtesy of Hull's goal against Doncaster.

The Premier League joins the party this weekend after the Football League kicked off their season last week, and this term promises more than most.

All the evidence suggests we could have our first genuine four-horse race for the title this season: Manchester United have strengthened by bringing in defender Chris Smalling and the exciting forward Javier Hernandez; Chelsea look slightly weaker after the departures of Michael Ballack, Joe Cole and Deco; Arsenal have bolstered their team with Maourane Chamakh and defender Laurent Koscielny; and Manchester City have bought everybody.

Personally, I believe Manchester United may regain their crown this year, while I expect Arsenal to pose a sustained challenge. Chelsea are my tip for third place and Manchester City will take fourth ahead of Tottenham, who will struggle to cope with the big names and deep squad Roberto Mancini has at his disposal.

As for West Ham, I think last season's troubles are well and truly behind them and a comfortable mid-table finish – around 13th – is what they can expect from Avram Grant in his first season in charge.