Rival Watch

Man City 64 pts,6 Games to play

Man Utd (H)
Middlesbrough (A)
Crystal Palace (H)
Leicester (H)
Watford (A)
West Brom (H)

Liverpool 66 pts,5 to play

Crystal Palace (H)
Watford (A)
Southampton (H)
West Ham (A)
Middlesbrough (H)

Man Utd 57 pts,8 to play

Chelsea (H)
Burnley (A)
Man City (A)
Swansea (H)
Arsenal (A)
Spurs (A)
Southampton (A)
Crystal Palace (H)

Arsenal 54 pts ,8 to play

Middlesbrough (A)
Leicester (H)
Spurs (A)
Man Utd (H)
Stoke (A)
Everton (H)
Southampton (A)
Sunderland (H)

Liverpool will win all their 5 remaining games without any issues. 3rd is theirs.

City will win 5/6 of their matches. 4th is more or less theirs depending on if they beat United or not.

United will most likely win the EL

Meanwhile we'll be lucky to win even 2 of our remaining matches

We're not getting CL, that's for sure. I'm more concerned about the EL spots and whether we'll have to qualify or not.

We need to finish 5th or win the FA Cup to get automatic group stage qualification. Anything other than that will require us to play a qualifier.

7th will definitely be an EL spot this year, unless United somehow drop down to 8th.

how can we pass up on Europa league?
New manager + no European football
more time to train and prepare team between matches

Arsene Wenger + Europa league that is though

Only way we can not qualify is by finishing 4th or 8th

Or United finish 8th but win the EL, and we finish 7th without winning the FA Cup.

We need to throw it away by sending kids or something if we qualify.

Does it really matter where we finish?

Next season Mourinho, Conte, Klopp, Pochettino, Pep will be in their 2nd/3rd season, with no big names leaving and new big shiny signings while Arsenal are stuck with Wenger and Alexis/Õzil leave.

We're set to compete against Everton for the rest of Wenger's career.

Looks like it. I am not sure we'll be able to get back in the top 4.

Pep is 100% winning the league next season. Mourinho will only get better. Klopp will finally sign big players. Pochettino has Spurs figured. Conte will buy better players too.

We'll be signing more free transfer players and players from non-league

He has nearly figured it out. This season was his awakening. He is a WC manager. Won't repeat the same mistakes. Will buy better players. His attack is 100% sorted. Defence is the only issue which he will sort it before next season.

I saw the games where Jesus played, Their front 4 was exactly the same as Liverpool in terms of goal scorers, movement and dynamism. I know i'm basing it on a very short period of time but I think attack is nearly sorted and we'll see that once Jesus returns for a few games at the end of this season and Frauguero goes back to the bench.

EG i don't agree with Sterling, from what i read he's one of the few City players who have been consistent through out the year and his numbers back it up.

Anyway i feel like from what i have seen just reading stuff online that they have been a lot better in the second half of the year but their wastefulness and individual mistakes defensively have cost them.

Also this Chelsea smacks of Chelsea when Mourinho won it a couple of years ago, I.E. they did enough in the first half of the year and strolled in the second half because no one was really consistent. I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if they don't win it next season.

I don't expect them to massively drop off or anything but i reckon someone else is winning it, if not City then someone else.

I'm actually with EG on this one. Unless they get some better defenders, DM, and GK I can't see them winning the league. Not with the way Conte's team is oiled.

Sure City's attack is coming along well but way too many problems everywhere else.

Top 6 squad depth

City spent a lot of money but the guys they signed were benchwarmers at their previous club or are relatively unknown. A lot of hype over money spent, not proven class. Their major ace in the hole is having Jesus from day 1. With Alexis they'd win the league but without him, I'm doubtful.

Spurs moved stadiums. That alone will keep them from winning (as well as being Spurs in general).

Liverpool are scary going forward but that defence / keeper will cost them dearly throughout the season.

Utd bought well and are currently on fire but I expect them to return to more 1-0 and 1-1 games when they begin facing better sides and dealing with Europe. For me, they lost Zlatan and gained Lukaku which is a step down - main improvement was Matic. I think top 4 but they won't win.

Chelsea are the best team and I think they will win despite getting worse this offseason. The X factor that could hurt them is dealing with Europe this year.

We have a competitive squad that doesn't perform. Tactically and motivation wise, it's not there. If we play backups in the Europa League and figure out our playing style, we have a good chance. Success and failure will rest on Arsene's shoulders.

Rough night for Ox

O dear Is it bad that I feel sorry for him. He was just finding his feet at Arsenal. I cannot see them being as patient with him given that they spunk out 40 mil to get his signature. Still wish him the best though. Somewhere in there is a really good player..... That player hardly ever decides to show up.

Not sure who is the biggest dumbass, who ever at Liverpool thought 40mil was a good price for Oxlade-Chamberlain (on his final year) or Ox himself thinking he could waltz into Liverpool's midfield or be forgiven for such performances as last night's.

It won't get better for him either, next year Keita joins Liverpool and he has 0 chance of playing ahead of Salah/Mane. I hope he enjoys being James Milner's future replacement, if he even achieves being that.

All banter aside, I think he will be alright. He has talent and will show when he plays with better players imo.

No other club will give him the time that he got at Arsenal. He will be dropped at first instance after a few average/mediocre performances which was rarely the case at Arsenal.