With three months to go - will Arsenal make the top four?


Arsenal

With three months to go - will Arsenal make the top four and return to the UEFA Champions League?



by Hugo Mirabel-Hardy


Arsenal’s late winner over Wolves on Thursday propelled their chances for top four into their own hands, as they have two games in hand over their rivals in the table.

While top two seems to be a certainty for Liverpool and Manchester City, and Chelsea look to have secured third - the fight for the final spot looks like it could be a four, or potentially five, horse race.

The Gunners sit fifth, having played 24 games and have 45 points. Manchester United are above them by a two points, and West Ham are three points below – both teams have played more games.

Their opponents on Thursday, Wolves, have 40 points but have played 25 games, and an outlier to top four, Tottenham are six points adrift of their north London rivals.

At the time of writing, United and West Ham are the only two teams left in Europe, while the Irons are Spurs have games left in the FA Cup.

Therefore, both Wolves and Arsenal are the only teams whose only engagement is the Premier League.
It is underestimated how important a week’s rest is for players since midweek games almost seem a foregone conclusion for most teams now.

Therefore, if Arsenal can avoid any freak injuries to their best players, it’s hard to see them giving up the race for fourth spot easily.

The run-in


There are no easy games in the Premier League, but of their remaining 12 games, Arsenal should expect to beat 19th placed Watford next weekend.

Their last three games are at home against Leeds, away to Newcastle, and finally back at the Emirates against Everton.

On paper, the Gunners should be able to beat all three teams – they are placed 15th, 17th, and 16th respectively.
Leeds haven’t won in their last five games, and were victims of a 6-0 drubbing to Liverpool this week, while Everton have only won one of their last five.

Newcastle have had a resurgence recently – they are undefeated in their most recent five games in the league and may prove to be a tougher opposition than before their controversial takeover.

However, Arsenal have to play Leicester City, Liverpool and Manchester United at home, while away trips to Crystal Palace, Southampton and West Ham could prove to be tricky tasks.

Mikel Arteta

The games against United and West Ham could be the make-or-break fixtures in Arsenal’s bid for Champions League next season – put simply they are prime ‘six-pointers’.

Aston Villa away and Brighton at the Emirates are the remaining fixtures in the list and both could be classed as tough to call – Villa started well under Gerrard but have been poor recently, and Brighton are in a similar boat.

The victory against Wolves proved that this group of Arsenal players have the mentality to keep fighting for points right until the end, and performances like the one against City earlier in the season should also prove to Arteta, that his players are receptive of his coaching methods.

Confidence


Winning breeds confidence, and there is nothing better than a late winner to inspire belief within a team – a comfortable victory against Watford next week could give the Gunners the confidence to overcome an out of form Leicester.

Overall, Arsenal’s run for the remainder of the season isn’t straightforward.

With just Premier League games to focus on, they may be able to take advantage of United and West Ham’s European commitments, and their final trio of games look quite favourable.

These last three fixtures may prove key, especially since both West Ham and United play Chelsea in their final three.

However, games against United, Liverpool and West Ham could derail their chances at top four entirely.

But if they are able to come out of a tough six day period where they play Leicester City, Liverpool and Villa with four or more points, while also ensuring they do not drop points unnecessarily elsewhere, Arsenal’s return to the Champions League could be what awaits them at the end of the season.

PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES

Popular posts from this blog

Player Profile: Zach Awe

Image
Player Profile: Zach Awe By Oliver Gafsen The eagle-eyed viewer would have noticed 18-year-old Zach Awe replacing Takehiro Tomiyasu on the bench in Arsenal's 1-0 victory at Molineux earlier this month. An academy player breaking into the seniors barely a year after putting pen to his first professional contract speaks to how big an impact Awe has made at Hale End. Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe have already demonstrated the class of our graduates in recent years, so here's everything you need to know about Arsenal's next wonderkid. Background The Young Gun was born to Nigerian parents in Greenwich in 2004 – mid-way through our invincibles season. If that doesn't make you feel like one of the old-timers, nothing will. Palace spotted his promise and snatched him from his Sunday league team, but Awe said: "when Arsenal came calling a year later, it was an opportunity we just couldn't turn down." So clearly, the youngster is a big Arsenal fan who feels a gen...
Read more

Transfer Profile: Ruben Neves

Image
Transfer Profile: Ruben Neves By Jonny Bray It is hard to believe that Ruben Neves is still only 25-years-old.   It feels as if the Portuguese international has been tipped for big things for nearly a decade now.  With the midfielder out of contract in 2023, it appears his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers could be coming to an end.  Understandably, with a player like Neves on offer for a reduced price, clubs around Europe are queueing up to secure the international's signature.  So, after all this time, should Arsenal move for Ruben Neves now, or is it time for the Gunners to turn their attention to a new target?  What would he bring?  Arsenal do not have enough defensive midfielders.  Martin Ødegaard, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka give Mikel Arteta plenty of midfield options going forward, but the Gunners have been found lacking when out of possession this season. Thomas Partey has been in and out of the side due to injuries, a fact that has not hel...
Read more

Where will Arsenal finish this season?

Image
Where will Arsenal finish this season? By Alec McQuarrie Arsenal have made steady improvement over the last few seasons under Mikel Arteta. After finishing 8th in his debut season, the Spaniard oversaw a five-point improvement in his first full campaign.  And last year an eight-point leap followed, which was unfortunately not enough to pip Tottenham to fourth place.  Cruelly, the 69 points accumulated would have been enough to seal Champions League qualification in the previous two seasons.  Looking at the trajectory over the Arteta era, it would be fair to assume a continued improvement this coming season.  After all, with five signings already secured this summer and Alexandre Lacazette the sole first-team player to depart, surely fourth place should be a bare minimum expectation.  Oleksandr Zinchenko offers much-needed cover at left-back and competition for central midfield.  Gabriel Jesus is a proven goalscorer and brings a tireless work-ethic to fulfil...
Read more