Jamie Carragher is backing Arsenal to outlast their rivals and secure a place in the top four to secure a long-awaited return to the Champions League.
March marks five years since the Gunners’ most recent game in Europe’s top competition, when they were thrashed 5-1 by Bayern Munich, condemning them to a humiliating 10-2 aggregate defeat. Since then, Arsenal had to settle for the Europa League in the next four seasons, before missing out altogether this time around.
But with just a third of the season remaining, Mikel Arteta’s side are firmly in the driving seat for a top-four finish, sitting one point ahead of fifth-placed Manchester United having played two games fewer. And speaking after the 2-0 defeat, Sky Sports pundit Carragher predicted that despite the loss, they were his pick to finish as the best of the rest, with the top three well out in front.
“The fight for Arsenal is to finish in the top four,” Carragher said after the full-time whistle. “Forget Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City…the results have been poor against them. “It doesn’t matter what your results are like against certain teams, it’s about how many points you get. They’re in a fight with Tottenham, West Ham, and Manchester United.
“The difference is, I think Arsenal are a better team than Manchester United and Tottenham, but they’ve got individuals that can do special things like Harry Kane and [Heung-min] Son or Cristiano Ronaldo. But I think the way the team is set up, the togetherness, the way they play - it looks like a proper team. They are a well coached team and I think they’ll just do it.”
With the season’s final international break now on the horizon, Mirror Football takes a look at the runners and riders for the final Champions League berth and who is best placed to win the race.
Arsenal - (current position 4th, points 51, games remaining 11)
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With games in hand on all of their rivals, the Gunners remain in pole position, should they win both of those extra games, they would move seven points clear in the race - a gap likely too big to close. But it’s not the easiest of run-ins for Arsenal, who still have to face a number of top-half teams between now and May.
Arsenal travel to the Midlands to face in-form Aston Villa on Saturday, before another tricky away day at Crystal Palace. Their season will likely be defined in a stretch of three games between April 20 and May 1, when they take on Chelsea, Man Utd and West Ham on the spin.
Man Utd - (current position 5th, points 50, games remaining 9)
Ralf Rangnick said ahead of the win over Tottenham that United would need to win each of their last ten league games if they are to overhaul Arsenal and secure a top-four finish. The Red Devils, who were dumped out of the Champions League on Wednesday, now have an extended break before taking on Leicester City on April 2.
Like Arsenal, United still have a number of tricky encounters to navigate, none more so than a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on April 19. That’s followed up by a game with Arsenal on April 23, before their penultimate game of the season sees them face off against Chelsea at Old Trafford.
West Ham - (current position 6th, points 48, games remaining 9)
If the Hammers want to take their own challenge into the final period of the season, they will need to beat cross-city rivals Tottenham on Sunday. A win would see them open up a gap on Spurs and give them real initiative with games against Everton, Brentford and Burnley at the start of April.
If they could get maximum points from those four, it would leave them in a strong position ahead of a difficult looking final handful of fixtures. David Moyes’s men face Chelsea and West Ham in consecutive weeks, before they head to Manchester City on the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season.
Tottenham - (current position 7th, points 48, games remaining 10)
The home clash against West Ham has the making of a do-or-die fixture for both sides, with a win bringing Spurs level on points with United, while defeat would leave them needing snookers. After the international break, Conte’s side take on a resurgent Newcastle side, before a trip to Villa Park and a home meeting with Brighton.
Of all the contenders, Spurs have - on paper at least - the easier final months of the campaign, with a visit to Anfield to face Liverpool on May 7, their only meeting with a team in the top three. If they can take it to the final two games, Burnley and Norwich offer a perfect opportunity to take a perfect six point from six.
Wolves - (current position 8th, points 46, games remaining 9)
A fortnight ago, Wolves harboured genuine hopes of a miraculous top-four finish, but that was before three consecutive defeats to Arsenal, West Ham and Crystal Palace saw them cut adrift. Bruno Lage’s side remain 10 points clear of 9th placed Aston Villa and so deserve to be in the mix, but in order to finish fourth, they will likely need to win their last nine games - including fixtures against Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City - as well as results elsewhere going their way.
Their biggest ambition now looks set to be battling for a top-six place, which would represent their best ever Premier League finish and a sterling maiden season for manager Bruno Lage.
