Premier League: Van Persie arrival gives Manchester United selection dilemma

The imminent arrival of Robin van Persie gives Manchester United an embarrassment of riches in attack as the deposed Premier League champions begin their quest to wrest the title back from local rival Manchester City this weekend.

It also gives manager Alex Ferguson a huge selection dilemma ahead of United's first game, against Everton at Goodison Park on Monday.

If Van Persie is thrown straight into the fray, who will partner him up front out of Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez? Will Rooney, currently United's star striker, drop into midfield to take on the playmaker mantle he was sometimes assigned last season? And what happens to record signing Dimitar Berbatov, who was the Premier League's top scorer in the 2010-11 season?

Whatever Ferguson decides, opposition defenses shouldn't have a moment's peace against United this season.

"It is a great boost going into the new season - he is a world-class player," United midfielder Carrick said of Van Persie. "Can it make the difference between second and first? There wasn't much difference (last season) so hopefully we can go that step further. But the club has always had strength in depth and it is about the squad and not the 11 on the pitch."

City won its first title in 44 years in dramatic circumstances last season, scoring two injury-time goals in its final game to beat Queens Park Rangers 3-2 and top the standings on goal difference from United.

Roberto Mancini's side starts as slight favorites with British bookmakers to win the league this season, too, and begins its campaign on Sunday with a home game against promoted Southampton.

Chelsea, which lost to City 3-2 in the Community Shield on Sunday, plays its first competitive match as European champion when it visits Wigan on Sunday and has a fresh look to its forward options following the signings of attacking midfielders Oscar, Eden Hazard and Marko Marin. Fernando Torres starts the season as the No. 1 striker after the departure of Didier Drogba.

Arsenal's first game is against Sunderland, with manager Arsene Wenger hoping the recruitment of forwards Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud can counter the loss of Van Persie.

Tottenham and Liverpool will look to threaten the division's established powers under the stewardship of new, young managers in Andre Villas-Boas and Brendan Rodgers, respectively. Spurs travel to Newcastle in the standout fixture of the opening round of matches, while Liverpool is away at West Bromwich Albion.

Most eyes, however, will be centered on how quickly Van Persie can make his presence felt at United, whose star-studded strikeforce rivals City's as the best in the league.

Paying a reported 24 million pounds ($38 million) for a 29-year-old player who would have been a free agent in 12 months' time shows just how highly Ferguson rates Van Persie, and the Dutchman will likely go straight into the United lineup, fitness permitting.

The prospect of Rooney and Van Persie - the league's top two scorers last season - teaming up is mouthwatering but it remains to be seen how Ferguson will arrange his forward line.

Everton typically is a slow starter to league seasons but produced a great comeback to earn a 4-4 draw against United at Old Trafford in May, a result that ultimately cost Ferguson's team the title.

"Man United is a big team in England and last year they almost won the title and would have done but Man City won the last game," Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini said. "But it is good for us to play a big team in the first game. It is a big test for us."

The two other promoted teams, Reading and West Ham, start their top-flight campaigns with home matches against Stoke and Aston Villa on Saturday.

The other games on Saturday are Fulham vs. Norwich and QPR vs. Swansea.