All set for Premier League kick-off

THE wait is almost over . . . the 2017-18 Premier League season gets under way tonight.

Arsenal and Leicester City get the ball rolling at The Emirates live on Sky Sports ­- the first time the Premier League season has kicked off on a Friday.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger will be hoping to regain at least a Champions League spot after last season's disappointing finish and the Foxes' Craig Shakespeare will be looking to put to bed their campaign-long hangover following a fairytale title-win in 2015/16.

Closer to home, Jose Mourinho and his expensively assembled Manchester United are preparing to take on West Ham United at Old Trafford on Sunday at 4pm. After shelling out £75million on Romelu Lukaku, £40million on Nemanja Matic and £31million on defender Victor Lindelof, he will aiming for the title or certainly a top-four slot after several disappointing finishes for United since the reign of Sir Alex Ferguson ended.

West Ham will field a couple of familiar faces to this neck of the woods. Pablo Zabaleta signed for the Hammers following a tearful farewell after nine years as a club legend at Manchester City. The Londoners also have England keeper Joe Hart on a season-long loan from the Blues.

Meanwhile, tomorrow City boss Pep Guardiola will take his new-look team to newly-promoted Brighton and Hove Albion, who are back in the top flight after a 34-year absence, for a 5.30pm kick-off.

Guardiola has spent a record £209million on recruits during the summer, three of whom are full-backs having released Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy.

In their place are England full-back Kyle Walker, Brazil's Danilo and France international Benjamin Mendy. City have also invested in the world's most expensive goalkeeper, Brazil's Ederson as well as Portugal midfielder Bernado Silva. Mendy is is injured, but the rest are available after all impressing during a good pre-season in the US and Iceland.

Brighton boss Chris Hughton has lost midfielder Beram Kayal after he broke his leg against Atletico Madrid this week, but the Seagulls boss added seven new players.