The derby defeat against Manchester City on 15 February was seen by many British football pundits as the beginning of Arsenal London’s downfall. The Gunners saw their lead at the top of the table and their hopes of winning another English league title after a 19-year break wiped out. Just one point from three games, too few for a title contender. But Mikel Arteta has pulled together, rediscovered the winning formula, and what has followed is admirable: five wins in a row!
Heading into this weekend’s round, Arsenal London has a five-point lead over Manchester City, its main chaser, which seems more concerned with the UEFA Champions League than the English title. Next up for Arsenal is a home clash with lowly Crystal Palace, a team in freefall, five draws and five defeats in their last ten games. Friday morning Crystal Palace announced the dismissal of coach Patrick Vieira.
Manchester City will not play this round, with their home game against West Ham United postponed. The FA Cup quarter-finals are scheduled for later this week. In the same situation is Manchester United, who has postponed its match at Brighton, and Fulham, who will not make the trip to Anfield.
And speaking of Anfield, after last week’s historic 7-0 win over Manchester United, Liverpool lost miserably at bottom side Bournemouth, a team they beat 9-0 in the first leg! Jürgen Klopp’s team is already writing history this Premier League season! A negative history! Liverpool has lost important points this season to modest teams, Nottingham Forest, Leeds, Brendford, Brighton, Wolverhampton, results that have led to them being nicknamed the “Robin Hood team”! A team that collects points from duels with the Premier League ‘rich’ and then donates them to the Premier League ‘poor’!
Liverpool is currently not only out of Champions League places, but out of Europe! Six points separate Liverpool from Tottenham Hotspur, in fourth place.
After five games without a win, which saw them drop out of the Top Four, Newcastle suffered terribly for another win, 2-1 against Wolverhampton. Eddie Howe’s team plays this weekend at the City Ground against Nottingham Forest, who in their last five games have only two points.
After a terrible run of two wins in 16 games in all competitions, Chelsea London has strung together three wins in a row, two in the league and one in Europe, the latter bringing them qualification for the Champions League quarter-finals. It was three wins that saved Graham Potter’s job. This weekend, Chelsea hosts the visit of Everton, 15th in the Premier League table.
