Mikel Arteta is closer than ever to getting his hands on the Premier League trophy with Arsenal
Arsenal’s prospects of lifting the Premier League trophy have improved considerably. It’s been an enormously encouraging week after Mikel Arteta ‘s team secured their place in the Champions League final.
A 1-0 home triumph over Atletico Madrid proved sufficient to book a berth in Europe’s premier occasion for the first time since 2006. Progress on the domestic scene has been equally impressive, with the Gunners reopening a lead in the race for Premier League glory.
Manchester City have not only dropped behind at the top of the table but have also encountered a series of obstacles this week. And football.london examines the latest developments from north London as Arteta and Co embark on what could prove a momentous few weeks.
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Froholdt available at £21m discount
Arsenal have learnt they could be handed a £21million discount on Porto’s Victor Froholdt. The Denmark international carries a £73m release clause in his contract, though it’s understood he could be secured for around two thirds of that figure.
The Times has reported Porto recognise the unlikelihood of commanding such a substantial fee for the midfielder. Arsenal are said to be among several Premier League clubs monitoring the player closely, with Newcastle also understood to be keeping a watchful eye.
The 20-year-old only made the switch to Portugal from Copenhagen last summer but is already attracting speculation over another move. Froholdt has been a constant presence in a Porto side that has already clinched the Primeira Liga title, contributing eight goals and six assists across 50 appearances in all competitions.
Arsenal may well find themselves in the market for a well-rounded central midfielder matching his profile given the injury troubles that have blighted the squad this season. Danish outlet Bold recently reported Liverpool are also registering an interest in the player, who has earned 10 caps for his nation.
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.
Arsenal receive triple boost in title race
Following City’s failure to secure maximum points in a 3-3 stalemate against Everton, Arsenal have received more encouraging developments regarding the title challenge. Pep Guardiola’s remaining schedule has become significantly more complex due to recent events across the continent.
English clubs will participate in all three European finals after Aston Villa and Crystal Palace reached the Europa League and Conference League showpieces respectively. This carries substantial ramifications should Villa finish fifth in the Premier League while already securing Champions League qualification through winning the Europa League.
That would mean a sixth-place finish would guarantee Champions League participation next season. Coincidentally, two of City’s upcoming three league fixtures come against Brentford and Bournemouth, who currently occupy seventh and sixth, respectively.
Both matches are scheduled before the Europa League final on May 20. Consequently, Brentford and Bournemouth will be battling to ensure they’re positioned to challenge for an unexpected place amongst Europe’s elite next term.
The additional Arsenal benefit involves Palace, who visit the Etihad next Wednesday before concluding their league season at home to the Gunners. Oliver Glasner’s side have a Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano to consider on May 27 but are mathematically still eligible for relegation at present.
Each of Nottingham Forest, Tottenham and West Ham immediately beneath the Eagles have begun accumulating points rapidly. Therefore, it’s in the Eagles’ interests to avoid diverting excessive resources from the league struggle prematurely despite their European showdown.
That’s potentially bad news for City ahead of their encounter next week. Glasner and Co may well remain vulnerable to the drop at that juncture, though that scenario’s likely to have altered by the time they welcome Arsenal on May 24, three days before they face Rayo Vallecano.
As a result, the south Londoners are far more inclined to rotate their key players when Arsenal make the trip to Selhurst Park. City, meanwhile, are considerably more likely to encounter a fully loaded version of that same squad.
