Here are the remaining fixtures of the 3 teams battling for the top 4: Arsenal: City (h), Wolves (a), Wigan (h), Chelsea (h), Stoke (a), Norwich (h), West Brom (a) Spurs: Sunderland (a), Norwich (h), QPR (a), Blackburn (h), Bolton (a), Villa (a), Fulham (h) Chelsea: Wigan (h), Fulham (a), Arsenal (a), QPR (h), Newcastle (h), Liverpool (a), Blackburn (h) On paper Spurs definitely have the easiest looking fixtures, I'd say Chelsea have a marginal harder fixture list than Arsenal, as they have to play us away, Fulham away, Liverpool away, and even Newcastle home, those are not easy games. For Arsenal it all depends, we have two tough fixtures with City and Chelsea, if we do good in them, then it's a done deal, even if we do good in just 1 out of the 2, then it could be a done deal for us, in a positive way off course. While Spurs do have the easier games on paper, they still have some tricky away games to Sunderland, Villa, and Bolton, and even QPR who have proven to be a tough ground for the big teams. Spurs are also facing a lot of teams who are also fighting for their lives in the league, so it won't be as easy as it seems, because those teams are going to be giving everything they have to get as many points possible. Overall, I'd say Spurs will end up in the top 4, as for the other spot, it's really down to who does better in the big games, Arsenal, or Chelsea, whichever of them does better in the big games, will be the one securing the top 4 spot, and I'd slightly give the edge to Arsenal, I really see Chelsea dropping quite a few points in the run of these 4 fixtures Fulham (a) Arsenal (a) Newcastle (h) Liverpool (a), not to mention Chelsea have a major game against Spurs in the cup semi's, as well as a likely match against either Barca or Milan in the semi's of Europe. The positive for Arsenal is that our destiny is in our own hand's for the top 4, and even with that disappointing loss yesterday, we are still overall in a good run of form. Newcastle are the dark horse in this battle, but Newcastle would really have to be on top top top form, basically winning all their last 7 games, or at least 6/7, and I don't see that happening, but, anything's possible, I'd be glad for newcastle to be in the top 4.
Newcastle are level on points with Chelsea with seven games to go. I would include them in this battle, especially with the way HBA and Cisse are playing.
On paper that may be true but Bolton, blackburn and even villa on current form are facing relegation which would mean they'll be willing to give it that extra mile so you would have to add extra weightage to their games as with Wigan on our case whilst some of the teams really aren't playing for much so may be demotivated to an extent. I still think though that spurs have the best bet of a top four finish.
I think we have the hardest fixture list tbh, especially looking at how congested it is and how many rivals we face in our last set of fixtures. Agree with SJW, Newcastle should definitely be included in this.
Our fixtures look manageable. I'm fairly confident of top four, but third spot might go to the Spuds Arsenal: City (h) Win, should just be able to squeeze this out as City are looking a bit shaky at the moment and we're a lot better at home. Wolves (a) Win, if we don't win this we should really be kicking ourselves. Wigan (h) Win, see above. Chelsea (h) Win, should be a tight game but again, we're at home and we play miles better at the emirates. Stoke (a) Loss, it's tough at stoke and like QPR their physicality could over run us. Norwich (h) Win, should just be able to get a win here. West Brom (a) Draw, Roy Hodgson has them set up quite well. + 16 points Spurs: Sunderland (a) Loss, Sunderland are playing top, top stuff under MON and we were incredibly lucky to win there. Norwich (h) Win, but it will be close QPR (a) Draw, QPR are good against the big teams but they can't beat all of them! Blackburn (h) Win, Spurs too strong for them Bolton (a) Draw, I see Bolton going on a good run with the recent Muamba news boosting them Villa (a) Win, Villa are all over the place at the moment Fulham (h) Win, Fulham will have less to play for than Spurs come game 38. + 14 points Chelsea: Wigan (h) Win, they should do well here Fulham (a) Draw, Fulham is a tough place to go to! Arsenal (a) Loss, we're good at the emirates but it will be close, 1-0 or similar to the Arsenal. QPR (h) Win, too strong for QPR. Newcastle (h) Draw, Newcastle will go on a huge run and might steal fifth from Chelsea or even better, IMO. Liverpool (a) Win, I can't see any other outcome when anyone plays Liverpool at the moment. Blackburn (h) Draw, Blackburn will come out fighting in the hope of survival. + 12 points. EDIT: I'm adding Newcastle. Swansea (a) Draw, should be a very entertaining game. Bolton (h) Win, Newcastle will have too much for them. Stoke (h) Win, See Above. Wigan (a) Loss, Wigan, I feel, will perform yet another great escape this year! Chelsea (a) Draw, Close game. Man City (h) Win, and this would be a huge coup for Newcastle too. Everton (a) Draw, both clubs can look back on great seasons for themselves. + 12 points End Result: 3rd for Arsenal on 74 points (So if the Manchester clubs heavily lose all their games except the Derby which they draw, we win the league! ) 4th for Spurs on 72 points (A very late St Totteringhams this year, if one at all) 5th for Chelsea on 65 points. 6th for Newcastle on 65 points (Chelsea's goal difference will knock Newcastle into sixth, but if Tottenham/Chelsea/Liverpool win the Fa Cup and these results happen, Newcastle get Europa League anyway, right?)
Barring a typical Arsenal collapse, we should be in the top 4 come the end of the season. Whether we finish ahead of Tottenham's another matter...
It goes without saying that this club just has to buckle down and get that 3rd spot or our CL season in the coming year may either not happen or be short term. Can't cry over yesterday. It's already spilled milk but we can do something in the next seven games. I just hope we bring home 21 points between now and the middle of May.
whatever happens i think its a cracking set up this season..with nothing certain...us and yourselves are going to be at each others throats every weekend more than normal.
Nah mate I'd love you guys to get a result there but I don't think it will happen. I do, however, think that QPR have a very good chance of staying up, if they perform like they did yesterday on their final fixtures. Good luck
Exactly. Newcastle are the form team in the Prem only behind Man Utd. I actually think Newcastle will accumulate the most points between the 4 teams. Don't think Spurs are certainties for top 4, not yet. One thing for sure is that 2 top quality sides will miss out, which is a great shame.
I had Arsenal City (H) - Lose. I think City will have too much for Arsenal in the midfield and it's a must win game, if they don't win they are out of title contention and run the risk of United winning the league mathematically on their patch. Wolves (A) - Win. Wolves will put up a fight but Arsenal will have too much. Walcott and Gervinho will terrorize the full backs and Van Persie will have a field day with Stearman and Johnson. Wigan (H) - Win. Wigan won't have enough, will try and naively take Arsenal on in a game of football and lose. Chelsea (L) - Lose. Totally out of sentiment and bias to my team Stoke (H) - Lose. Wenger's habit of making an enemy out of British managers will come back to haunt him, Pulis ad Stoke will treat games against Arsenal like a cup final. Norwich (H) - Win. Arsenal will have too much for Norwich, but Holt could cause them a few problems. WBA (A) - Win. Arsenal should win comfortably Spurs Sunderland (A) - Draw. Spurs are making themselves tougher to beat and with Lennon and Bale back will have more balance. Sessegnon will cause them problems and Spurs have only won once away from home since beating WBA in late October. Norwich (H) - Win. Spurs will have too much for Norwich. Routine win here. QPR (A) - Loss. Spurs will struggle here based on QPR's showings vs City, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool and Arsenal. Unless Adebayor is at the top of his game they will struggle here big time. Cisse will be back and will want to prove a point for this one Blackburn (H) - Win. Spurs to bounce back. Blackburn not good enough defensively. Bolton (A) - Draw. Just the sort of away trip Spurs don't like, up North on a midweek night against a battling side. Villa (A) - Bent will want to prove a point as will Hutton, lots of ex-Spurs and Villa may need a win to stay up. Tough game. Fulham (H) - Fulham are tough but Spurs should overcome them. A lot of Spurs season depends on how the react to the FA semi with Chelsea. Chelsea Wigan (H) - Win. We should win this, hopefully get a positive result on Wednesday and we can push on and keep the spirit and momentum going Fulham (A) - Win. We should win here as well, great record here, don't know how we found ourselves facing a near defeat last season having dominated. The better footballing teams have done well here. Arsenal (A) - Win. Pure bias towards my team. QPR (H) - Win. Should be winning all our home games, if we get to the semi there is always a chance we may have to win this to overcome the potential disappointment of losing or Euphoria of winning.. Newcastle (H) - Draw. Sort of team we hate playing against, they will stifle us and look to counter via Ba and Ben Arfa, really worried about this game but Newcastle may have one eye on City at the weekend (let's hope). Liverpool (A) - Draw. Poor Liverpool team but they treat us as a cup final and bound to raise their game. Blackburn (H) - Win. Hopefully Blackburn will have secured survival the week before vs Wigan and effectively call a holiday. Newcastle Swansea (A) - Win. Newcastle will have too much, Ba and Cisse are to clinical and Tiote and Cabaye will dominate the midfield, if you press Swansea like Everton did they will have little to offer. Bolton (H) - Win. Bolton won't cope with their front line Stoke (H) - Win. Stoke don't show up away from home. Newcastle (A) - Win. Newcastle will sell out and it will effectively become a home game. Can't see anything but a win here. Chelsea (A) - Draw. See above Man City (H) - Win. City will be demoralised having lost the title to United on the Monday, they will do what we did in the last two games of 10/11 Everton (H) - Draw. Everton do well against the big teams, but don't see Newcastle losing this.
Glad some people have decided to include us! I'll be bloody chuffed if we get another unbeaten run together, and I think we can unless we don't turn up in one game and basically end up as the cause of our own defeat. I think it's possible for us to do it though. The tough games like Chelsea and Man City could just as easily be draws or even wins. I wouldn't rule anything out. Such a long run does seem unlikely but hey, we've won 3 on the bounce at the moment, and the next three (Swansea, Bolton and Stoke) are all winnable or at least drawable.
I think this weekends results remind us just how precarious the positions for top 4 are. We need 100% concentration and determination in every minute of every game.
The 5 point gap for Chelsea and Newcastle means the pressure is surely on them. 2 poor results and they are out of it. Same isn't true of Spurs and Arsenal.
