Arsenal accept emerged every bit the leading contenders to secure fourth in the Premier League behind Manchester Metropolis, Liverpool and Chelsea, but face a tricky remaining set up of fixtures in their bid to secure a Champions League return.

With Manchester City and Liverpool fighting it out for the title, and Chelsea in a strong position in finish third, it appears there is one Champions League spot to fight for with five teams in contention.

On a run of five straight league wins, Arsenal (51pts) have the upper hand, sitting in fourth and a bespeak above Manchester United (50pts) having played 3 fewer games.

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Westward Ham (48pts) and Wolves (46pts) sit down below United in sixth and seventh respectively, having as well played 29 games, while Tottenham (45pts) are eighth just have two games in hand on the trio of teams above them.

That arguably makes Spurs the biggest threat to Armory, who are aiming to play Champions League football for the first time since the 2016-17 season.

With some key meetings to come, the race could yet take a few twists, and our predicted table at the bottom of this article shows it could turn out to be very close…

  • Premier League fixtures
  • Premier League table

Armory vs Tottenham for summit four?

Key Arsenal matches: Liverpool (H) March xvi, Chelsea (A) April 20, Human being Utd (H) April 23, West Ham (A) April 30, Tottenham (A) TBC

Key Spurs matches: Due west Ham (H) March 20, Liverpool (A) May 7, Arsenal (H) TBC

The maths looks simple enough. If Armory tin win their three games in hand over the three teams beneath them, they would be 10 points clear of United, merely Spurs can emerge equally their closest rivals if they practise as well with their ii games in paw.

Bukayo Saka of Armory is challenged by Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League lucifer betwixt Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on September 26, 2021

Image credit: Getty Images

The major gene in play is that Arsenal'due south match at Spurs is withal TBC in terms of date, while the Gunners recently had their fixture at Chelsea confirmed for Apr 20.

These are ii tricky encounters for Arsenal, while the fact they are hosting Liverpool on Wednesday and face trips to Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Southampton, West Ham and Newcastle outline that fourth is no guarantee despite their recent upturn in form.

Spurs arguably have an easier run-in, with their trickiest away run into at Liverpool, significant the north London derby could prove decisive – so too overall goal divergence.

What well-nigh Man Utd?

Key Man Utd fixtures: Liverpool (A) April xix, Arsenal (A) April 23, Chelsea (H) May 15

Manchester United are like Forrest Gump'due south box of chocolates, and so matches look simpler on paper than they do in real life. With Cristiano Ronaldo, annihilation is possible, but in the same sense that can be applied negatively regarding their defensive frailties, and while their remaining domicile games confronting Leicester, Norwich, Brentford and Chelsea are all very much winnable, the prospect of them taking 10 or 12 points is far from sure.

Away trips to Arsenal and Liverpool will likely define whether United are playing Champions League or Europa League football next flavor, a cistron which could exist huge for them come the summer transfer window and search for a permanent manager.

Of course, they could always win the Champions League this flavour in order to qualify for next season's edition…

Could Westward Ham or Wolves threaten?

Key West Ham fixtures: Tottenham (A) March twenty, Chelsea (A) April 23, Armory (H) Apr thirty, Man City (H) May xv

Key Wolves fixtures: Man City (H) Apr 16, Chelsea (A) May seven, Liverpool (A) May 22

With Arsenal belongings a salubrious reward over Due west Ham and Wolves, and with Spurs likely to leapfrog the pair in the table, it would take some run for either team to cease 4th overall.

West Ham volition certainly have a say, given they are still to face Spurs and Arsenal, but they would likely need to win both of those encounters to stop up having a chance of coming 4th themselves.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - January 22: Declan Rice of West Ham United reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester United and W Ham United at Old Trafford on January 22, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

Image credit: Eurosport

The Hammers besides remain in Europa League contention, which has the prize of reaching the Champions League at the end of it – they only trail Sevilla one-0 heading into the last-16 return leg at London Stadium on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Wolves have winnable fixtures at home to Leeds and Aston Villa coming up, and they could also derail Manchester Urban center'south championship bid when Pep Guardiola's side travel to Molineux in mid-April.

The biggest stumbling block for Wolves is the two away fixtures at Chelsea and Liverpool among their final three games, meaning a push for the Champions League could exist a pace too far.

Predicted Premier League table

Tin can helmet fourth dimension, but nosotros ran through the remaining fixtures and predicted the remaining results for the teams in title and top-four contention. Emphasis on predicted, as this will certainly not stop up being entirely – if at all – accurate.

Here goes…

Arsenal cease fourth! By ane goal… We predicted scorelines for the remaining matches and had Arsenal finishing on 73 points forth with Spurs, just they pipped their rivals by one on goal deviation. That sounds fabricated upwardly, fixed, tampered with, purposely tinkered, merely you have our assurance it was not.

https://i.eurosport.com/2022/03/15/3338213.jpg

This included a draw for Arsenal against Liverpool, at West Ham and Southampton besides, and wins over Manchester United, Leeds and Everton among others.

Spurs airtight the gap by virtue of predicting them to win a narrow derby at dwelling against Arsenal, while we had Manchester United two points adrift on 71 points, and Wolves and West Ham slipping abroad from contention.

For what it'due south worth, we have Urban center winning the league by 6 points and winning their remaining nine games – that may sound far-fetched, particularly after a 0-0 depict at Crystal Palace, only they won xiv straight to seal the 2018-19 championship and are capable of doing it over again. The fundamental meeting being that lucifer at home to Liverpool on Apr x.

Salve this for May, feel gratis to DM me. It'll be wrong, but imagine if it was correct…

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