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Football London

Sport

Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

When and where Arsenal can exploit Tottenham's run-in with Man United 'done' in top-four race

Arsenal Tottenham UEFA Champions League EPL West Ham Antonio Conte Gary Neville Manchester United Spurs Gunners

The 2021/22 Premier League season will soon reach its conclusion and there's still plenty to be decided over the next six weeks at both ends of the table. At the very top, it could go down to the wire for the title as Sunday's 2-2 draw proved there's very little between Manchester City and Liverpool.

Meanwhile, at the bottom, Everton have are in a relegation scrap with Burnley, Watford and Norwich City. Although with two games in hand on the teams above them, it means the likes of Leeds United, Newcastle United and Southampton should be looking over their shoulders.

But for Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur the focus is on the top-four race and Champions League qualification for next season. As things stand, the latter are in pole position having taken advantage of their north London rivals losing twice following the March international break.

In fact, with Manchester United and West Ham United also losing last time out it proved to be the perfect weekend for Antonio Conte's side as they sit fourth with a three-point cushion over the Gunners - albeit having played a game more - and the position is there's to lose, according to Gary Neville.

"I never trusted Arsenal really and I said that publicly," he said on the Gary Neville Podcast. "I said a few weeks ago I didn’t trust Arsenal fully and the reason behind that was because they needed to prove they could go through a run-in where they were favourites for the top four. Those doubts are starting to come to the fore.

"I have to say I think Tottenham are just basically getting there through the fact they’ve had a bit of experience in the last three or four, five years of getting into the Champions League. And through Manchester United and Arsenal’s woes, and West Ham have lost as well.

"You're almost in some ways thinking 'well over to you Tottenham, you may as well go and take the Champions League place’, why not? We know they’ve got an exceptional front two/front three. But there’s still a lot to play for. Man United are done. It's now about whether Arsenal can recover and I’m not sure, I’m not sure that they can. It’s basically Tottenham’s for the taking."

If the Hammers are focusing their attention on winning the Europa League to secure their place in next season's Champions League and Neville's assumption that Man United are 'done' in the top-four race is correct then it will be between Arsenal and Tottenham for that final spot.

Of course, plenty of twists and turns are expected between now and May but Spurs have been installed as favourites to win the battle as per a final predicted Premier League table. Looking at their run-in and it's easy to see why with four of their remaining seven fixtures against sides in the bottom half.

Whereas Arsenal still have to face Spurs, Chelsea, West Ham and Man United - teams that make up the top seven - so it's clear which side has the best run-in, at least on paper that is, and with the Gunners seemingly at a disadvantage they'll need to win their game in hand at Stamford Bridge as well as match or better Tottenham's results up until the North London Derby where victory would see them regain control of the top-four race with two games to go.

Alternatively, looking at where Spurs could drop points before the huge game on May 12 and their trip to Liverpool five days prior immediately jumps out. The Reds will almost certainly need to win to maintain their title charge so Arsenal need to be in a position to capitalise if Antonio Conte's side leave Anfield empty-handed.