By Sam McGuire
The highest of the desk might have a really totally different take a look at 7pm on Sunday afternoon. Right here’s your weekend preview.
Sneaking up the desk
At one stage this season, it appeared as if Manchester Metropolis would possibly end exterior of the Champions League locations. Now, although, with three video games to play, Pep Guardiola’s aspect are in third place, simply three factors off of Arsenal with a beneficial recreation this weekend.
Metropolis face Southampton on Saturday. They’re, comfortably, the worst crew within the Premier League. The Saints, marooned on the backside of the desk, have conceded probably the most objectives this season whereas additionally scoring the fewest. They’ve received simply twice all season and are 10 factors adrift.
This needs to be the best three factors of the season for the previous champions. Particularly within the kind they’re in. They’re unbeaten since early March and high the shape desk with 13 factors from 15.
Regardless of their early season struggles, there’s nonetheless a world through which Guardiola guides his aspect to a second place end and success within the FA Cup. It’d be some turnaround.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Bournemouth have been constantly inconsistent this time period.
They began the season with one win of their opening 5 and 4 wins of their opening 10. On the finish of November, they went on an 11-match unbeaten run, profitable seven of these within the course of, and catapulting themselves up the desk. Some even thought they could have an outdoor likelihood of a high 4 end.
This run included a 4-1 win over Newcastle United and a 5-0 dismantling of Nottingham Forest.
Andoni Iraola’s aspect then misplaced 5 of the subsequent season and have received simply three video games since February. But they’re at present unbeaten in 5 and claimed a 2-1 win over Arsenal of their final recreation.
Regardless of such inconsistent kind, they discover themselves eighth within the Premier League desk. They know {that a} win would transfer them to inside 4 factors of the guests this weekend, Aston Villa.
Unai Emery’s aspect are inside one win of shifting degree on factors with fourth-placed Newcastle United. It will heap the stress on groups round them, groups akin to Chelsea and Nottingham Forest, as they appear to assert a high 5 end to have Champions League soccer return to Villa Park subsequent time period.
Villa haven’t travelled effectively this season, selecting up 23 factors from 17 matches. It sees them sit eleventh within the away kind desk. Bournemouth, in the meantime, haven’t been nice at residence, profitable simply seven of their 17 residence fixtures.
A should not lose at St James’ Park
Newcastle United host Chelsea within the early kick-off on Sunday.
It is a huge recreation within the race for a Champions League place. Proper now,
The Magpies are degree on factors with Enzo Maresca’s aspect. They’re forward of them within the desk attributable to their superior objective tally. Each groups are in comparatively good kind with the Blues rating fifth within the kind desk with 11 factors whereas Eddie Howe’s crew are sixth with 10 factors from their final 5 matches.
Chelsea have began to choose factors up over current weeks, at a key time of the season too, profitable three on the bounce within the Premier League and beating champions Liverpool final trip. It has given them a a lot wanted increase heading into this specific run-in.
Newcastle, in the meantime, have slowed down a bit of bit. Humbled by Aston Villa a number of weeks in the past, they wanted a late penalty final weekend to assert some extent in opposition to Brighton. The important thing factor for them although was to not lose. It’ll be the identical mentality this weekend too.
All eyes shall be on the extremely sought-after Alexander Isak. He’s simply 5 behind within the race for the Golden Boot however has two in two. He additionally has a objective in opposition to Chelsea in every of his final three appearances. An enormous end to the season will see his valuation swell.
How will Arsenal react?
Arsenal’s season has fizzled out. There’s no technique to costume it up. Mikel Arteta’s aspect have taken simply six factors from their final 5 matches within the Premier League. This kind has seen their title problem flip right into a scramble to complete within the Champions League locations.
They’re winless in 4 throughout all competitions and misplaced their final Premier League match in opposition to Bournemouth, a recreation through which they did take the lead. The Gunners misplaced to Paris Saint-Germain within the Champions League to finish their journey on the semi-final stage.
What might’ve been a particular finish to the season now seems to be set to be a stress crammed one for Arsenal gamers and followers alike. Have they got the psychological fortitude to see out the marketing campaign?
They journey to Anfield this weekend to provide the champions a guard of honour. Once more, that’s going to be a psychological blow for a crew that had title aspirations a bit of over a month in the past. Will they bounce again and put in an excellent efficiency to take care of their lead in second or are they going to crumble?
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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