Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham are all embroiled in a heated race to finish in the top four this season, with Champions League qualification on the line. While first and second seemingly secured by Manchester City and Liverpool, as many as five teams have a shout of finishing third and fourth.
Also involved in the battle are Manchester United and West Ham, with each club knowing that a place in Europe could make a huge difference financially and in the players they can attract. The Blues are currently in the driving seat to finish third, sitting five points clear of fourth and fifth, but with Arsenal still to play.
The Gunners themselves were in a good position, but a loss to Crystal Palace after the international break has put them behind North London rivals Spurs on goal difference, with one game in hand over them. Mikel Arteta has since defended claims that pressure at the back end of the season has got to his players.
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Discussing the loss to the media after the game, the Spaniard said: “No, because the pressure has been there for the last seven or eight weeks and we are talking all the time about the race and the top four and this is while they have been performing extremely well, getting results and playing well. Today we didn’t perform and it is as simple as that. We were second best in every department, especially in the first half.”
With the final stretch of the season getting underway, everyone is discussing who they think will qualify for the Champions League and former Chelsea and West Ham midfielder Joe Cole has chipped in. Speaking on the YouTube channel JOE, he said: “Chelsea will do it [finishing top four]. I can see Arsenal finishing fourth too. I think it will be Chelsea and Arsenal in those last two positions.”
“Having the points on the board is massive. I covered Arsenal’s win at Aston Villa and it was one of those where Arsenal might have got beat in the last few years. I know they slipped up against Crystal Palace but I just think Arsenal will have enough, what Mikel Arteta has done there has been brilliant. I think Chelsea finish third and Arsenal should come fourth.”
It’s a huge claim from the pundit, given Thomas Tuchel 's concerns since returning from the international break as well as Arsenal’s injuries and run-in still to come. With the North London Derby on the horizon, it could be a defining fixture.
Antonio Conte and his Tottenham side will certainly be hoping they will be in with a shout, with Liverpool at Anfield on May 7 their most challenging fixture, on paper at least.
