With only six games remaining before the season’s conclusion, all bets are off surrounding which of the three contenders – Arsenal, Manchester United or Tottenham – will grab the final Champions League position in the Premier League. All three teams have suffered through various ups and downs throughout the campaign, and with six matches remaining, only three points separate the three clubs.
Manchester United began the season as a sure shot to finish in the top 4 after the big-money acquisitions of Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho, and Raphael Varane. However, the Red Devils’ squad lacked significant quality in other areas of the pitch and a manager with the ability to bring out the best in players, resulting in a team of misfits that have won less than 50% of their games this season.
Arsenal and Tottenham, on the other hand, began the season slowly, but have found their best form since the turn of the year and are currently the two favourites to land that final top-4 spot.
However, with six games left to play in the Premier League, there are still plenty of twists and turns left in the season, and here is an in-depth look at the three teams fighting it out for a chance to join Europe’s elite.
Position: 4th | Points: 57 | Games left: 6 | Goal Difference: 18
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Tottenham Hotspur were the definition of inconsistency in the initial months of Antonio Conte’s reign – losing games to Wolves, Burnley and Southampton. However, the North London club has turned things around since the January transfer window with the arrivals of two Champions League calibre players in Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski. Spurs have won six of their last eight games in the league, scoring 25 goals over the same period thanks to the electric chemistry between their new front three of Harry Kane, Son Heung-Min, and Kulusevski.
However, despite this recent uptick in form, Antonio Conte’s side was given a reality check last weekend by Graham Potter and Brighton, and the team still have some tough tests awaiting them in the final six games of the season. All eyes will be on the North London Derby on the 13th of May at Tottenham, but Spurs also have to travel to Anfield and play a relegation-threatened Burnley on the penultimate matchday of the season.
Position: 5th | Points: 57 | Games left: 6 | Goal Difference: 10
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Arsenal were in pole position to grab a top-four spot in the Premier League following an excellent run of form through February and March, but a mixture of bad luck and injuries derailed their course, with the Gunners losing three games in a row to Crystal Palace, Brighton and Southampton.
Although Mikel Arteta’s side managed to beat Chelsea in a thrilling London derby to overcome that setback, the inexperience and thinness of the Arsenal squad has shown over the last month. The absence of Thomas Partey and Kieran Tierney has left a massive hole in the Arsenal defence and build-up, and it will take a titanic effort from youngsters such as Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares to fill the void over the remainder of the season.
In terms of the run-in, Arsenal face Manchester United in a must-win game for their Champions League aspirations, and have three incredibly tricky away fixtures to Tottenham, West Ham and Newcastle United before the end of the season.
Position: 6th | Points: 54 | Games left: 5 | Goal Difference: 4
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While Manchester United’s form has been catastrophic under Ralf Rangnick over the last month, with only one win in eight in all competitions, the Red Devils still have an outside chance of finishing in the final four thanks to the various slip-ups from the teams above them. Although United trail Arsenal and Tottenham by three points, having played an extra game, victories in their next two fixtures against the Gunners and Chelsea could give United an outside chance of snatching Champions League qualification.
Despite the recent form and the fractured nature of their squad suggesting otherwise, United have enough star power in their squad to outgun any opposition on their day, and if Arsenal and Tottenham continue on their recent downward spiral, the Red Devils need to keep winning to pounce on any opportunity presented.
Shivaan Shah