The Premier League title race is now back in Arsenal’s hands after Manchester City drew 3-3 with Everton in a Monday night thriller at the Hill Dickinson Stadium
Once the small matter of a blockbuster Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid is out of the way, the Premier League title is now firmly up for grabs for Arsenal.
Jeremy Doku’s stunning last-gasp equaliser for Manchester City at Everton on Monday night felt like a big goal but in reality, a draw was still a hugely favourable result for the Gunners.
The instructions are simple, collect maximum points from their final three matches and Mikel Arteta’s men are champions.
That’s not to say there won’t be late twists and turns because this weekend’s opponents West Ham are still fighting tooth and nail to secure Premier League safety.
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Not only that but City also play top-five hopefuls Brentford and they also travel to high-flying Bournemouth, who are in with an outside chance of securing Champions League qualification.
But for now, Arsenal needs to focus on what they can control. If they beat West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace, they will end their gruelling 22-year wait for the Premier League title.
Seven points might also be enough even if Man City win all of their four remaining matches, provided the Gunners have a superior goal difference at the end of the season.
However, Arteta will not want to take that risk and will instead target maximum points. The finish line is now in sight and a few other variables also favour Arsenal.
Burnley are already relegated for starters while Crystal Palace could potentially be preparing for the Conference League final on the final day of the season.
Victory for Palace in Leipzig would also guarantee them Europa League football next season. So, if they battle past Shakhtar Donetsk, it’s hard to see them prioritising their final-day clash against the Gunners at Selhurst Park when European qualification via a top-nine finish could well be out of reach.
That’s why many feel Sunday’s game against West Ham could well decide the title race. It’s Arsenal’s toughest remaining top-flight fixture on paper and the Hammers desperately need three points themselves as they bid to finish ahead of relegation rivals Tottenham.
There is no point in Arteta’s squad thinking about their trip to the London Stadium just yet though, as there is a Champions League final in Budapest at stake tonight at the Emirates Stadium.
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
