Thrilling yet lot more to anticipate after the penultimate games before the Premier League run-in

Albeit some teams still have games in hand, here is the summary of the weekend, including how it played out in the race for the title, top four and other European places.

League leaders, Arsenal achieved Mikel Arteta’s 100th win as the club’s Manager in stupendous fashion, thrashing Fulham 3-0 in a derby match in Craven Cottage, becoming the first side to win five consecutive away London derby matches in a season, without conceding a goal in all.

It was a brilliant display, one that will have City worrying of the prospect of defending the Premier League title.

Leandro Trossard was the star of the show, assisting all three goals and becoming the first player to record a Premier League hat-trick of goals and assists in the same season in history.

They respond to City’s win and reestablished their five point cushion while also making up for the goal difference.

Eleven more games to go and it’s looking like they can deliver the league title, which will be their first in 19 years. It however will be a race down to the wire.

Erling Haaland’s second half penalty helped Manchester City close the gap on Arsenal to two before the Gunners won at Fulham on Sunday.

It was a tough one in Selhurst Park and Pep Guardiola will be thrilled that his side were able to get the points given the circumstance.

Manchester United just about out of the title race after earning just a point in their last two games.

Albeit they have a game in hand, they now trail City and Arsenal by 11 and 16 respectively, and now have to worry about chasers in race for top four.

How fast things have changed for them having had the opportunity to close the gap on the leaders a couple of weeks ago.

Tottenham did themselves a world of good with the win over Nottingham Forest, which saw them reduce the points on Man United and strengthen their case for a top four finish.

With Newcastle and Liverpool hot on their tail, there is no room for error and every point earned and lost from here on will be decisive.

Newcastle United return to winning ways after a run of five without one and Miguel Almiron back amongst the goals again just in time to net the winner vs. Wolves.

Belief is again restored for Eddie Howe’s side and their fate in own hands. Winning their games in hand will have them back in the top four.

A disappointing weekend for Liverpool, who after putting seven unreplied goals past Manchester United last in their previous game would have thought they are finally got back their mojo.

However, falling to their second ever defeat to Bournemouth meant they missed the chance to temporarily move into the top four for the first time this season.

Wins for Newcastle United later on Sunday borne them further implications as they now drop to sixth on the log.

In the end, Brighton would not take all the points in a very tactical game vs Leeds United, though they took the lead twice but the host fought back everytime.

De Zerbi side remain seventh on the log with three games in hand. Winning all may see them move into that top four, that depending on result of games the other teams ahead them have in hand.

Fulham were not just good enough against a free following Arsenal in Craven Cottage as they were blown away before they even got a chance to prove anything

Missing the likes of Willian and the suspended Joao Palhinha did not help their case as they were overruned in a 3-0 defeat.

They drop to eighth, level on points with seventh place Brighton. The result of the game with Arsenal would not define their season as they’ve been great. But more work is still needed to be done to meet their end of the season objectives.

Brentford’s twelve games unbeaten run finally comes to an end after falling to a Dwight McNeil’s first minute goal in Everton’s Goodison Park.

Albeit they will take credits in the run that just ended, the danger is that they are now just a point ahead of Chelsea, who seemed to have returned to form and firing on all cylinders of late.

Chelsea made it three straight wins across all competitions and now look to be scoring more goals. A development that must have been well received with glee and celebration by Chelsea fans world wide.

3-1 winners over Leicester City in the King Power Stadium means they have now scored six in their last three games. Great output for a club that scored just once all February.

It has been a frustrating start to the year but things are starting to happen for them again and they could move up to seventh with a win in their next game, depending on results elsewhere.

Aston Villa continues to ride on the will of fortune and the form of Ollie Watkins as they steal a point away to West Ham United.

A top ten finish is not farfetched for Unai Emery’s side and that being a realistic goal before the end of the season, the race has started and they’ll love to see it out.

Patrick Vieira must be frustrated after their hard work was undone by Michael Olise’s reckless challenge on Ilkay Gundogan, which earned City the penalty for the only goal of the game

Still without a win in 2023, it doesn’t get any easier as they now travel to Arsenal in their next game, with just three points separating them from the dropzone.

Wolves did well in the Saint James’ Park to deny Newcastle the win but in the end, they had to leave the stadium with nothing after Miguel Almiron’s winner eleven minutes from time.

The result will not be pleasing for Julen Lopetegui, who knew that there could have been something for them in that game, having come so close.

Forest getting beaten by Tottenham Hotspur, though not surprising but they, in the end will it could have been better.

Trailing 3-0 just after the hour mark, they got a late consolation through Worrall and it could have been more had they been more clinical and Andre Ayew scored a penalty deep in added time.

They’ve nicked points off Liverpool, one off Man City and Chelsea so Spurs doing the double over them is one that will hurt, but not necessarily decisive for their season.

Massive win for Everton thanks to Dwight McNeil, one that lifts them out of the relegation zone but with noting decided, the work continues for the Toffees, just like everyone else below them on the log.

Leicester City’s shambolic season continues as they fall to Chelsea at home, extending their losing run to five across all competitions. Pathetic.

A team that was once considered to be in the top six will now battle for survival in the remainder of the season, with 12 more games on the menu.

Just like Leicester City, West Ham United even have one leg in the quarter finals of the Europa Conference League but here in the league, it’s all shambles.

Six wins and 14 defeats after 26 games, even if they win all their remaining games, they’ll only record 60 points, six more than they did last season. But it is certain they are set to record lower points return than last season.

David Moyes is a man under a lot of pressure and the only source of joy for the Hammers this season is Europe, because tougher tests await them in the league, with both Manchester clubs, Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle and Brentford still to come.

Massive win for Bournemouth, who finally get what is deserved after surrendering a two goal lead to Arsenal in the previous game. This time, Philip Billing’s goal delivered the points against Liverpool.

It’s their first home win since November, and even though they remain in the dropzone, it births relief of knowing that another one could lift them above peers, who also look destined for the Championship next season.

Leeds United have just lost it in the battle for survival, which they played themselves into having recorded just one win in their last 13 league games. Surely not good enough.

A hard-fought point against Brighton is not bad, but the complications of not winning their home games in the current circumstance only means alarm bell is ringing, and could translate into their ruin come May.

Southampton should have done more for more than just a point after that early red card to Casemiro at Old Trafford. Yes, they should have.

Opportunities like that don’t come around often but now that has been passed, and looking at things, it seems the time has finally come for them to succumb to the fate of relegation, having escaped for notable seasons in the past.

Author : Kehinde Hassan Afolabi