It is tense on the high and nail-biting on the backside.
With fewer than 10 rounds of video games left, we check out how the Premier League title race, the battle for Champions League locations and the relegation battle are shaping up.
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On the summit, Arsenal get pleasure from a seven-point lead over Manchester Metropolis however have performed a sport extra.
Trying on the remaining fixtures, the Gunners have a barely simpler run-in on paper, though their eight remaining video games embody what may very well be a title-defining journey to the Etihad on 19 April.
Past that, it’s price noting that 4 of Arsenal’s subsequent 5 league video games are at residence towards mid-table sides whereas 4 of Manchester Metropolis’s subsequent 5 are away, together with a visit to Chelsea.
Whereas some have questioned Arsenal’s capability to go on and win the league, it is clear that Manchester Metropolis have not been the terrifying drive of seasons previous.
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Actually, solely twice underneath Pep Guardiola have that they had fewer factors after 29 video games than their haul of 60 this time period – of their first season underneath him again in 2016-17 (58) and final season (48).
If we have a look at each groups’ anticipated objectives numbers, neither has been as dominant because the title winners lately – whether or not attributable to their very own flaws or the Premier League being extra aggressive than ever – so there’s an opportunity of either side slipping up of their remaining video games.
Excellent news for Arsenal followers is that essentially the most dominant staff statistically – by way of anticipated aim distinction per sport, excluding penalties – have gained the Premier League in three of the previous 4 seasons.
The exception got here when Manchester Metropolis pipped the Gunners to the title two years in the past.
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With fifth place prone to result in Champions League qualification once more, simply three factors separate Manchester United, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool for a spot within the high 5, with a kind of sides wanting set to overlook out.
Some would say Aston Villa have the best run-in of the quartet. After a troublesome journey to Outdated Trafford this weekend, they face 4 of the underside six of their subsequent six video games, though whether or not taking part in sides preventing for survival is a bonus at this stage is debatable.
Liverpool are the staff at the moment outdoors the highest 5. They’ve the prospect to construct momentum towards a run of mid-table sides earlier than tackling a frightening collection of video games in Might after they play all three of their Champions League-chasing rivals in succession.
A few months in the past Aston Villa appeared virtually nailed on for a top-five end as they sat no less than eight factors away from the opposite three groups regardless of their underlying numbers being a lot worse.
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They had been even portrayed as potential title contenders, however a spate of accidents to key gamers and a drying-up of the xG-defying screamers they scored from outdoors the field earlier within the season allowed their rivals to make up floor.
Within the battle on the backside, Wolves and Burnley are all however down barring a footballing miracle, which leaves one spot that’s prone to be stuffed by certainly one of Leeds, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and West Ham.
With essentially the most factors on the board already, Leeds have the kindest run-in on paper, with only one sport towards a aspect from the highest six (Manchester United on 13 April) and residential video games towards each of the underside two.
In the meantime, it might appear to be West Ham are the most definitely to be relegated as not solely do they at the moment sit within the backside three, additionally they have the hardest run-in of the 4 sides.
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Nevertheless, the explanation why Tottenham and Nottingham Forest followers have motive to be nervous is that West Ham’s performances have improved significantly underneath Nuno Espirito Santo’s steerage in current weeks.
Solely 4 Premier League groups have taken extra factors from their previous eight video games than the Hammers (14) and solely 4 groups have the next anticipated aim distinction in that point, suggesting the upturn has not been all the way down to luck.
Whereas fixture lists and statistics give us an ideal concept of what is to come back, there are positive to be many twists and turns within the battle for the prized locations within the Premier League earlier than the ultimate ball is kicked.