The race for the crown: Will Man Metropolis catch Arsenal?

With an eight-point lead, Arsenal are in a improbable place because the Premier League title run-in enters the ultimate straight.

By the point they kick-off at house to Leeds on Saturday afternoon, it might be even higher, with Man Metropolis coming back from the worldwide break to face Liverpool within the lunchtime kick-off. It’s a brutal fixture for Metropolis to get again below approach with.

Certainly, Jurgen Klopp’s facet might be billed as kingmakers someway, with Arsenal going to Anfield subsequent Sunday. However April 26 is the date each Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola may have circled of their diaries. The day the highest two meet on the Etihad.

Man Metropolis’s win on the Emirates in February appeared to have swung momentum within the defending champions’ favour however a subsequent slip-up at Nottingham Forest and an impressively excellent response from Arsenal within the Premier League provides the Gunners a wholesome cushion with simply 10 video games remaining on their schedule – another than Metropolis.

A primary title since 2003/04 is on the playing cards – however nothing within the Premier League might be taken as a right. Simply ask these Metropolis followers who went to Nottingham Forest anticipating their facet to kick on from the seemingly decisive win at Arsenal.

One factor we might be certain of is that Man Metropolis will push Arsenal all the way in which to the ultimate whistle on Might 28 and throw the whole lot at their head-to-head subsequent month. For an Arsenal facet which wilted at crunch time final season, their resilience goes to be examined. It’s going to be an absorbing, intriguing finale…
Peter Smith

Do not name it a comeback! Chelsea should back-up wins

After seemingly being getting ready to dropping the Chelsea job after lower than six months in cost, Graham Potter relieved the strain by main his facet to some well timed outcomes earlier than the worldwide break.

It felt just like the Blues had turned a nook, significantly when you think about they received as many Premier League video games of their final three matches (two) as that they had of their earlier 15. However is the revival actual?

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In addition to bettering their factors tally, Chelsea’s wins over Leeds and Leicester and draw with Everton this month have seen them rating extra constantly and file a better anticipated objectives totals per sport in contrast with their earlier performances after the the World Cup.

Nonetheless, that improved attacking output has seemingly come at the price of defensive solidity, with Potter’s facet now conceding extra objectives per sport and seeing their anticipated objectives conceded complete shoot upwards.

Observers must also be cautious of throwing too many flowers at Chelsea’s toes for taking seven factors from the final 9 on supply, given the typical league place – going into this weekend – of the opponents they confronted throughout that run was fifteenth.

Briefly, the wins over Leeds and Leicester – plus the Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund – got here at a significant time for Potter, however he and his gamers now have to again up these outcomes towards higher opponents, beginning towards Aston Villa on Saturday, reside on Sky Sports activities.
Joe Shread

A gripping relegation battle heats up

4 factors. That’s all that separates Crystal Palace in twelfth and Southampton in twentieth. It’s shaping as much as be the best relegation battle in Premier League historical past and this weekend might be pivotal.

Crystal Palace will hope the return of former boss Roy Hodgson can encourage them to their first victory of 2023 after they host Leicester, who’ve slipped to seventeenth and are only one level above the drop zone following a poor run of outcomes.

Thirteenth-placed Wolves – under Palace on purpose distinction – loved a post-World Cup carry below Julen Lopetegui however have suffered back-to-back losses and one other away at Nottingham Forest would see them leapfrogged by their opponents within the desk.

With Leeds travelling to leaders Arsenal on Saturday and Everton internet hosting top-four contenders Tottenham on Monday Night time Soccer, wins for each north London sides could be a great addition for the opposite seven groups trying to escape or transfer away from the underside three.

Bournemouth can be hoping to duplicate their 1-0 win over Liverpool of their final house sport. The Cherries are nineteenth however only one level behind Leicester forward of ninth-placed Fulham’s go to to the Vitality Stadium.

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Occupying the opposite two relegation spots are 18th-placed West Ham and rock-bottom Southampton, who go head-to-head in a mammoth battle on the London Stadium on Tremendous Sunday.

Because the season enters its remaining stretch, who will construct the arrogance and momentum they should survive? For any of the 9 golf equipment preventing to protect their Premier League standing, a win this weekend might start their march in the direction of security.
Dan Sansom

Surprising contenders vying for Europe

When the manager-of-the-season prize is mentioned, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta can be most individuals’s decide. There’s a sturdy case for Erik ten Hag’s work at Manchester United to be recognised too. However in Newcastle’s Eddie Howe, Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi and Brentford’s Thomas Frank there are three extra head coaches far exceeding expectations for this season.

Howe was 90 minutes away from touchdown Newcastle a primary main piece of silverware since 1955 within the Carabao Cup remaining. However victory over their Wembley conquerors Manchester United on Sunday would take the Magpies above Ten Hag’s facet and into third place within the Premier League – and right into a improbable place to go on and seize Champions League qualification.

The Newcastle takeover has reworked ambitions on the membership however Howe has the workforce nicely forward of schedule this time period.

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The dream of Europe, extremely, is alive for Brighton and Brentford too. With the highest seven within the Premier League prone to qualify for European soccer subsequent season, that fanciful dream might be a actuality for the supporters of these fantastically-coached golf equipment punching above their weight.

Their assembly on the south coast on Saturday is a captivating one and a conflict of kinds. Within the larger image, Brighton maintain the benefit with two video games in hand however Brentford – degree on factors – might strike an necessary blow this weekend.
Peter Smith

Will Everton and Spurs overcome off-field points to realize on-field goals?

It has been a turbulent worldwide break for Everton and Tottenham with no ball even being kicked.

Everton have been referred to an impartial fee by the Premier League for an alleged breach of its profitability and sustainability guidelines. They might be fined or deducted factors if they’re discovered responsible.

Within the instant time period, this doesn’t impression Everton’s squad and Sean Dyche insists they’re targeted on profitable the factors they should keep away from Premier League relegation.

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However it might impression them massively sooner or later. It should do little to endear an already disillusioned fanbase with the Everton hierarchy. Whereas protests have been an ongoing occurence, that is one other black mark and second of uncertainty that can solely additional gasoline the hearth.

Tottenham’s gamers, nonetheless, have returned from the worldwide break to search out their membership reworked. Antonio Conte is out, Cristian Stellini is within the hotseat with one other former caretaker supervisor in Ryan Mason as his assistant.

Conte departed following his post-match rant after the 3-3 draw at Southampton, making his place untenable. It took nearly two weeks for the Italian to be given his marching orders, leaving Stellini to assist safe Champions League soccer for Spurs subsequent season.

As if that was not sufficient, Tottenham managing director of soccer Fabio Paratici had his FIFA ban on worldwide soccer actions prolonged earlier this week. It provides additional uncertainty to Spurs’ switch plans, in addition to their seek for a brand new supervisor – two key parts of the Italian’s function on the membership.

Neither facet are of their most secure second, however there’s a job to do on the pitch and objectives to realize. When the pair meet on Monday Night time Soccer, they’ll hoping it’s the on-field soccer – not off-field dramatics – that dominate the headlines.
Charlotte Marsh