A NEW season is nearly upon us and everything in the world is rosy writes our betting guru Gerry McDonnell.

Food tastes better, women seem more attractive and last season's disappointments are a distant memory.

For supporters of Arsenal and Middlesbrough, a season of glory and trophies awaits; while a relegation dogfight is on the cards for the supporters of Blackburn, Norwich and Crystal Palace.

Everything you need to know about your team's chances can be found in the following guide:

ARSENAL

Winners: 11/8 with Paddy Power / Victor Chandler

Relegation: 10,000/1 with BET365 / Totesport

Gerry's Prediction: 1st

Q: What do you get if you cross Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Patrick Vieira, Jose Reyes, Sol Campbell and the best manager in the World?

A: The Premier League Champions.

ASTON VILLA

Winners: 250/1with General

Relegation: 33/1with Totesport

Gerry's Prediction: 5th

There is a player at Villa Park who is the difference between a top six finish and a top 10 finish, and the blessed Angel has signed a new four year contract.

With the Moore brothers, Allback and Carlton Cole challenging Darius Vassell to partner the great one, there will be one team in Birmingham scoring goals this year.

BIRMINGHAM

Winners: 400/1with Paddy Power

Relegation: 20/1 with Victor Chandler / Totesport

Gerry's Prediction: 14th

Oh dear, what can the matter be?

The word has spread that Bruce has signed Em Heskey.

Blues fans sing, Oh **** what a travesty.

Six million straight down the drain.

Instead of spending £6.25 million on Heskey, Steve Bruce would have been shrewder spending £100 on a metal statue, which he could place on the half way line. Although Heskey may score one or two more goals, the statue would be better at "one-twos" and would receive fewer bookings for simulation. Apparently, Gerard Houllier is still laughing now.

BLACKBURN

Winners: 1,000/1 with General

Relegation: 11/1with Victor Chandler

Gerry's Prediction: 18th

If Paul Dickov is your big summer signing, you're in real trouble. In Jonathan Stead they have a player of genuine promise, but most teams would take quality over promise any day of the week. Blackburn are destined for a season long fight against the drop, and Souness could well be hoping for a new series of Boys from the Blackstuff, as a career change may well be on the cards.

WANDERERS

Winners: 1,000/1with General

Relegation: 8/1 with Totesport / Bet Direct

Gerry's Prediction: 9th

Sam Allardyce has literally performed miracles at Bolton, after all, he made Michael Ricketts look like a footballer! In Jay-Jay they have a player of genuine world class who will inspire Bolton to equal last year's heroics, finishing the season in the top half.

CHARLTON

Winners: 750/1with General

Relegation: 11/1with Victor Chandler

Gerry's Prediction: 10th

Alan Curbishley continues to surprise many with the way he can create a team out of limited footballers. This season though, an added ingredient - quality. Dennis Rommedahl could prove to be the bargain of the summer. (If Emile Heskey is worth £6.25m, Rommedahl should cost £89.5bn.)

CHELSEA

Winners: 2/1with General

Relegation: 10,000/1with BET365 / Totesport

Gerry's Prediction: 2nd

What can you say? If they lose a game early on, they'll buy three more players. They're so rich they sign players and just give them to other teams. The only real threat to the Arsenal.

CRYSTAL PALACE

Winners: 7,500/1with Sportingbet / Super Soccer

Relegation: 4/9with Blue Square / Bet Direct

Gerry's Prediction: 20th

The ugly side of the game is represented by Iain Dowie and Crystal Palace - the bookies make the Eagles favourites to finish the season with the worst disciplinary record. Unfortunately, even with the fighting spirit Dowie has introduced relegation is an absolute nailed on certainty. It's a case of Eagles sore.

EVERTON

Winners: 1,500/1with Bet Direct

Relegation: 5/1with Skybet / Super Soccer

Gerry's Prediction: 17th

The French cruelly (but comically) named him McRooney, but Wayne is unquestionably a world class talent. If Everton sell their prize asset, they will be relegated; if he stays, mid table obscurity awaits our spherical headed hero.

FULHAM

Winners: 1,000/1 with Sportingbet

Relegation: 9/1with Skybet / William Hill

Gerry's Prediction: 13th

A year ago, Chris Coleman was the favourite in the sack race market; this season he is fully expected to lead Fulham to safety. However; having now lost Louis Saha and Sean Davis, Mr. Fayed will have to share his profits from the corner shop he owns, or it will be the Cottagers being sold down the river.

LIVERPOOL

Winners: 16/1 with General

Relegation: 2,000/1with Bet Direct

Gerry's Prediction: 6th

Rafael Benitez is the man with the near impossible job of reviving Liverpool's fortunes. His predecessor has helped him by offloading "Making Emile" Heskey, but hindered him by signing the similarly named (and similarly talented) Diouf and Diao. If Owen hits it off with Cisse, and if Gerrard maintains last season's form, Liverpool will do well. But once again; that's too many ifs.

MAN CITY

Winners: 1,000/1with General

Relegation: 8/1with Paddy Power / Bet Direct

Gerry's Prediction: 11th

Last season was a complete disaster for Keegan as his players let him down continuously. Robbie Fowler looked unfit and uninspired, while Anelka appeared to be regressing to his former self. This season though, expect King Kev to rotate (or replace) the strike force and he'll love it as the results improve.

MAN UNITED

Winners: 11/4 with General

Relegation: 10,000/1with BET365 / Totesport

Gerry's Prediction: 3rd

Man United are going backwards quicker than Michael Schumacher in reverse. Giggs is past his best, Rio Ferdinand will be lucky if he remembers to turn up for the game, Scholes has ginger hair and Alan Smith is a liability. If they can match last season's finishing position of third place, there will be dancing on the streets of London.

MIDDLESBROUGH

Winners: 300/1 with General

Relegation: 20/1with General

Gerry's Prediction: 4th

Steve McLaren appears to have made a dramatic change to his management style. Amazingly; Steve has discovered he is allowed to buy good players. JFH and Viduka are top quality and will score plenty of goals this season. When you add to the table Ugo and Southgate, clean sheets are as good as guaranteed. The surprise package of the season will be challenging for a Champions League spot.

NEWCASTLE

Winners: 66/1 with Ladbrokes

Relegation: 300/1 with Bet Direct

Gerry's Prediction: 7th

Newcastle are in Dyer straits; instead of challenging to be the best team in the country, Newcastle will not even be the best team in the North-East. Sir Bobby has proved that a fine Toon could be played on an old fiddle, but unfortunately, it's time to put the fiddle down.

NORWICH

Winners: 7,500/1 with Sportingbet

Relegation: 4/7 with Skybet

Gerry's Prediction: 19th

Darren Huckerby is back in the Premiership, but not for long. Norwich lack quality and face certain relegation. Delia Smith will sound like Gordon Ramsay come May.

PORTSMOUTH

Winners: 2,000/1 with General

Relegation: 5/2 with William Hill

Gerry's Prediction: 15th

If your Chairman has disposed of more Managers than he has razors, then arguing with him about the best way to bring the club forward is not good for your long term job prospects. If Harry does manage to stay on, he'll have a job trying to match last season's 13th place finish. In Yakubu and Lua Lua they have a partnership that will bring goals, but the omens are not good at Fratton Park.

SOUTHAMPTON

Winners: 2,000/1 with Sportingbet

Relegation: 8/1 with General

Gerry's Prediction: 12th

Paul Sturrock (it would appear) has replaced James Beattie with Peter Crouch. Now let me make this clear, I am not a football manager, I'm an odds compiler. I take no enjoyment from criticising others; it's simply not my bag (I don't even own a bag). But, this is the worst decision since Mick McCarthy asked "What do you think Roy?" Luckily, the quality of Kevin Phillips should keep Southampton out of a relegation battle.

TOTTENHAM

Winners: 400/1 with Sportingbet

Relegation: 16/1with General

Gerry's Prediction: 8th

The main problem with the Spurs squad is a lack of quality in the middle of the park. Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane are strikers straight out of the top drawer, but if nobody passes them the ball, then they're about as effective as a Sven Goran Eriksson substitution. If Santini can resolve this, an improvement on last season's 14th place is a certainty.

WEST BROM

Winners: 5,000/1 with General

Relegation: 8/13 with Paddy Power

Gerry's Prediction: 16th

Of the three promoted teams, the Baggies are certainly the most likely to stay up. Add together previous Premiership experience, the quality of Jason Koumas and the fact that the Yam Yam's don't concede many goals, and what you get is a great bet at 6/4 on the Albion not to be relegated.