Arsenal back in the driving seat

Arsenal appear to have come through their recent blip and now find themselves in a position where 3 wins from their remaining 3 PL matches will see them crowned champions for the first time since 2004. They have also reached the Champions League final for the first time since 2006. The return of Bukayo Saka certainly seems to have galvanised the side and makes them more potent offensively. it is hard to see them not picking up those 3 wins given their run-in but pressure can do strange things to teams. Manchester City were cruising at 1-0 away to Everton before 13 chaotic minutes saw them concede 3 times to trail 3-1 in the 81st minute. Erling Haaland halved that deficit almost immediately before Jeremy Doku scored his second goal from outside the box in the final minute of additional time to salvage an unlikely point. Definitely a point gained from the position they found themselves but failing to win means that they are no longer in control of their own destiny and need Arsenal to drop points once again for them to have a chance to regain the PL title.

The remaining fixtures of the two are below for reference. City do have 3 of their 4 matches at home but 3 of them are against sides that are still fighting for European qualification so will not be easy. Arsenal face a West Ham United side scrapping to avoid relegation but their other 2 fixtures do not look anywhere near as challenging.

Arsenal	Manchester City
West Ham United (A)	Brentford (H)
	Crystal Palace (H)
Burnley (H)	AFC Bournemouth (A)
Crystal Palace (A)	Aston Villa (H)

Manchester United beat old foes Liverpool 3-2 at OT to secure a return to the CL next season. Quite a turnaround since Michael Carrick took over as interim manager and he surely will be given the job on a full time basis. Liverpool remain 4th since Aston Villa also lost, both sitting on 58 points, both looking good for CL qualification but both still needing at least 1 more win to be certain. The Reds should get that this weekend with them hosting the team currently bottom of the form table with 6 straight PL defeats and only escaped recording 6 consecutive defeats without scoring a goal for the first time in the club’s history courtesy of a spectacular overhead kick in the 93rd minute of their latest loss. That team are, of course, Chelsea who last earned a point on March 4th, over 2 months ago. In typical Chelsea fashion they do somehow find themselves in the FA Cup Final just over a week’s time but I am not sure how they will be able to avoid another humiliation in that match in what has been a truly bizarre season.

They certainly will not be playing in the CL next season and will probably not be playing in any European competition but Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentford are all in the mix for a 6th place finish that could yet yield CL football should Aston Villa finish 5th and win the EL this season. Both definitely possible.

Everton, Fulham and Sunderland are also in with a shout of qualifying for the EL or Conference League with a strong finish. Below them, Newcastle United, Leeds United, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest should all be safe although none quite yet mathematically but West Ham’s goal difference is a big issue for them. Realistically it remains between the Irons and Tottenham Hotspur for the final relegation place following confirmation of returns to the Championship for both Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Neither have easy matches but Spurs have won their past 2 PL matches to climb back out of the bottom three. I said a few weeks ago that I thought West Ham would make the drop. I have not changed my mind.

West Ham United	Tottenham Hotspur
Arsenal (H)	Leeds United (H)
Newcastle (A)	Chelsea (A)
Leeds United (H)	Everton (H)

Premier League Prediction Competition 2024-25 – Session 8, Week 2 (of 5)

Steve has often been very quiet across the years this competition has been running but this season has been his most productive season by far with 3 session wins. He also co-leads the final session alongside John F, both on 78 points. With the World Cup 2026 prediction competition just around the corner, with its larger number of competitors and subsequently larger prizes, will it be Steve’s turn to shine on the biggest stage of all?

John S is 3rd with Stefan, who has been very consistent throughout the season and looking to add to his 1 session win and 6 POTW awards so far, in 4th. The rest of us still in touch.

Other than Vince who has been absent for some time. I hope all is OK.

Don’t forget those predictions!

Prizes are very modest currently due to modest entry. If anyone has friends, family, work colleagues etc… who may be interested in taking part, please pass on an invitation to them. More competitors means bigger prizes.

PLEASE INVITE ANYONE YOU KNOW WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN TAKING PART.

CONTACT ME AT… contact.sytykf@gmail.com

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