{"id":1150230,"date":"2020-07-07T11:15:31","date_gmt":"2020-07-07T10:15:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1150230"},"modified":"2026-02-24T15:14:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T15:14:34","slug":"premier-league-top-four-race-easiest-hardest","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/premier-league-top-four-race-easiest-hardest\/","title":{"rendered":"Ranking: Premier League top-four race run-ins from easiest to hardest"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>With the title decided and second-place secured, the only remaining interest at the top of the <span id=\"urn:enhancement-352c88a0\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Premier League<\/span> table is the race for top four and Champions League qualification for 2020\/21.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"urn:enhancement-bb8c6503\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Leicester City<\/span> sit third on 58 points, with <span id=\"urn:enhancement-e5acc2a6\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Chelsea<\/span> one point behind on 57. Those two occupy the coveted third and fourth positions right now, but <span id=\"urn:enhancement-f990c9c4\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Manchester United<\/span> are closing in with 55 points, <span id=\"urn:enhancement-cc649e4e\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Wolves<\/span> are a further three points back on 52 points and <span id=\"urn:enhancement-19254d6e\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Arsenal<\/span> are just about clinging to the possibility of a Champions League spot with 49 points.<\/p>\n<p>Unless fifth place comes into play, we have five main contenders vying for two spots. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-43cfbf0c\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Leicester<\/span>, <span id=\"urn:enhancement-9098668e\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Chelsea<\/span>, <span id=\"urn:enhancement-78fe33a3\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Man Utd<\/span>, <span id=\"urn:enhancement-c12f43b3\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Wolves<\/span> and <span id=\"urn:enhancement-4a73e900\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Arsenal<\/span>. But which clubs stand the best chance? That, of course, all depends on the games they have remaining in the schedule.<\/p>\n<p>With that in mind, we&#8217;ve had a look at each side&#8217;s run-in and ranked them from easiest to hardest. Who falls where? Read on and find out. Disagree with any of our picks? Let us know on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/squawka\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Twitter<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SquawkaFootballNews\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Facebook<\/a>!<\/p>\n<h2><strong>5. Manchester United<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>5th place &#8211; 55 points<br \/>\nForm: <span style=\"color: #339966;\">W<span style=\"color: #000000;\">D<\/span>WWW<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>vs. Aston Villa (a)<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>vs. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-aaa8b3cd\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Southampton<\/span> (h)<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>vs. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-a3e1a11\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Crystal Palace<\/span> (a)<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>vs. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-d16cf054\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">West Ham<\/span> (h)<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>vs. Leicester (a)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"urn:enhancement-31c7aedd\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">The Red Devils<\/span> are unbeaten in nine Premier League games, the longest active run in the competition amongst all sides. Bruno Fernandes&#8217; arrival energised the club and Paul <span id=\"urn:enhancement-512299be\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-person\">Pogba<\/span>&#8216;s return to fitness coming at the same time as Mason Greenwood&#8217;s emergence has left <span id=\"urn:enhancement-2de40f0e\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-person\">Ole Gunnar Solskjaer<\/span>&#8216;s men looking imperious.<\/p>\n<p>What&#8217;s more, United&#8217;s run-in is now chock full of winnable games. Nothing in the Premier League is just given to you but \u2013 armed with Fernandes and <span id=\"urn:enhancement-23a76064\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-person\">Pogba<\/span>&#8216;s combined creative instincts \u2013 United will expect to beat four of their remaining opponents, setting up a delicious final day showdown against <span id=\"urn:enhancement-82b3b09b\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Leicester City<\/span> that could end up being for a guaranteed spot in next season&#8217;s Champions League.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Premier League top-four finish odds*: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/go\/smarkets-sqm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">SBK<\/a><\/h2>\n<p>Man Utd: 2\/5<br \/>\nChelsea: 2\/5<br \/>\nLeicester: 10\/11<br \/>\nSouthampton: 1\/1<br \/>\nBurnley: 1\/1<br \/>\nEverton: 2\/1<br \/>\nWolves: 25\/2<br \/>\nArsenal: 31\/1<br \/>\n<span id=\"urn:enhancement-b30473e3\" class=\"textannotation\">Crystal Palace: 31\/1<br \/>\nSpurs<\/span>: 33\/1<\/p>\n<p><em>*Odds correct at time of publication (11:00 07\/07\/2020).<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/go\/smarkets-sqm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1150201 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/03\/06132406\/1133085_1133085_SBK-offer-July2020-1024x505.png\" alt=\"SBK sign-up offer &amp; welcome bonus\" width=\"1024\" height=\"505\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/03\/06132406\/1133085_1133085_SBK-offer-July2020-1024x505.png 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/03\/06132406\/1133085_1133085_SBK-offer-July2020-300x148.png 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/03\/06132406\/1133085_1133085_SBK-offer-July2020-768x379.png 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/03\/06132406\/1133085_1133085_SBK-offer-July2020-1536x757.png 1536w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/03\/06132406\/1133085_1133085_SBK-offer-July2020-66x33.png 66w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/03\/06132406\/1133085_1133085_SBK-offer-July2020.png 1669w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/go\/smarkets-sqm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Click here to claim SBK\u2019s sign-up offer of deposit \u00a320, get \u00a320 risk-free.<\/a> New customers only. 18+. Deposit \u00a320 using Debit Card, bank transfer or Trustly. Up to your first \u00a320 of losses will be refunded as cash within 24 hours of qualifying bet having been settled. Full\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/help.getsbk.com\/hc\/en-gb\/articles\/360004563257-Welcome-bonus-explained\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">T&amp;Cs<\/a>\u00a0apply.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gambleaware.org\/gambling-problems\/do-i-have-a-gambling-problem\/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3eyY2sCy5gIVA7TtCh1_ugboEAAYAiAAEgJDgPD_BwE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">GambleAware<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>4. Wolves<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>6th place &#8211; 52 points<br \/>\nForm: D<span style=\"color: #339966;\">WWW<\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">L<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>vs. Sheffield United (a)<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>vs. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-aa6abf03\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Everton<\/span> (h)<br \/>\n<\/strong><strong>vs.<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<span id=\"urn:enhancement-2d32cd1a\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Burnley<\/span> (a)<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>vs. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-834085f6\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Crystal Palace<\/span> (h)<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>vs. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-2f8a5e95\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Chelsea<\/span> (a)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1081896 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2019\/04\/02160140\/PA-41809553-1024x666.jpg\" alt=\"Premier League top-four finish: Ranking run-ins and betting odds | SBK\" width=\"1024\" height=\"666\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2019\/04\/02160140\/PA-41809553.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2019\/04\/02160140\/PA-41809553-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2019\/04\/02160140\/PA-41809553-768x500.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2019\/04\/02160140\/PA-41809553-66x43.jpg 66w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>By the time the Premier League season comes to an end, <span id=\"urn:enhancement-3d90309b\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Wolves<\/span> will have been playing competitive football for over an entire year. Their 2019\/20 began on 17th July 2019 with the Europa League qualifiers and will run into August 2020 for the Europa League knockout rounds. So the extended break has arguably helped <span id=\"urn:enhancement-9fa66c4b\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-person\">Nuno Espirito Santo<\/span> rest his squad, which should give them a boost in the run-in.<\/p>\n<p><span id=\"urn:enhancement-58c124a6\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Wolves<\/span> have no easy games left, but also nothing that stands out as extremely difficult. They will have to battle every single week, but they are more than capable of beating every single opponent. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-c8ad20aa\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Chelsea<\/span> are obviously formidable but <span id=\"urn:enhancement-9049eb3a\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Wolves<\/span> love to play on the road so should be right at home at Stamford Bridge. They&#8217;re a fair way back, points-wise, but their run-in gives them a chance.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>3. Chelsea<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>4th place &#8211; 57 points<br \/>\nForm: <span style=\"color: #339966;\">WWW<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">L<\/span>W<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>vs. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-e54d3270\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Crystal Palace<\/span> (a)<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>vs. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-2d98788b\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Sheffield United<\/span> (a)<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>vs. Norwich (h)<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>vs. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-bd04f65c\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Liverpool<\/span> (a)<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>vs. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-29d1bc3b\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Wolves<\/span> (h)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1126028 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/01\/18193554\/lampard-newcastle-1024x694.jpg\" alt=\"Premier League top-four finish: Ranking run-ins and betting odds | SBK\" width=\"1024\" height=\"694\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/01\/18193554\/lampard-newcastle.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/01\/18193554\/lampard-newcastle-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/01\/18193554\/lampard-newcastle-768x521.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/01\/18193554\/lampard-newcastle-66x45.jpg 66w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"urn:enhancement-fe9e189d\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">The Blues<\/span> looked to be assured of a Champions League place early on in the season, but a wretched run of form during the winter saw them dragged down into the mire with everyone else. They&#8217;ve been lucky that their competitors have really failed to capitalise on their failures, but now they face a tricky run-in of their own to secure their place at next season&#8217;s top table.<\/p>\n<p><span id=\"urn:enhancement-fabfe1fd\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Crystal Palace<\/span> and Norwich should be wins, but <span id=\"urn:enhancement-7b298dd5\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Sheffield United<\/span> will surely give the <span id=\"urn:enhancement-e295f7fd\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Blues<\/span> a game. The main reason the west Londoners&#8217; run-in is harder than the one Wolves are facing is how it ends. Their penultimate game of the season sees them go to Anfield, where <span id=\"urn:enhancement-56f81dfc\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Liverpool<\/span> have thus far won every game. After that they close the season out at home against <span id=\"urn:enhancement-c22cb7af\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Wolves<\/span>. The <span id=\"urn:enhancement-b2b0faef\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Blues<\/span> have struggled at the Bridge and Wolves are the ultimate road warriors, so bringing it home is <em>not<\/em> going to be easy for Frank Lampard.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>2. Leicester<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>3rd place &#8211; 58 points<br \/>\nForm: <span style=\"color: #339966;\">W<\/span>DD<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">L<\/span><span style=\"color: #339966;\">W<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>vs. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-57730e63\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Arsenal<\/span> (a)<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>vs. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-fb6b6522\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Bournemouth<\/span> (a)<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>vs. Sheffield United (h)<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>vs. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-531ee0ae\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Spurs<\/span> (a)<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>vs. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-51d705cb\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Manchester United<\/span> (h)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1150260 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/07\/06183017\/1150230_1150230_jamie-vardy-leicester-2020.jpg\" alt=\"Premier League top-four finish: Ranking run-ins and betting odds | SBK\" width=\"1024\" height=\"663\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/07\/06183017\/1150230_1150230_jamie-vardy-leicester-2020.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/07\/06183017\/1150230_1150230_jamie-vardy-leicester-2020-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/07\/06183017\/1150230_1150230_jamie-vardy-leicester-2020-768x497.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/07\/06183017\/1150230_1150230_jamie-vardy-leicester-2020-66x43.jpg 66w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Foxes were, for the first-half of the season, comfortably the third-best team in the league. Hell at times they were second only to <span id=\"urn:enhancement-402d13d4\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Liverpool<\/span>. But that was all predicated on Jamie Vardy scoring goals at an incredible rate, and when he went through a dry spell around the turn of the year, <span id=\"urn:enhancement-bdd1e2e5\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Leicester<\/span>&#8216;s form began to dip. And when the league returned from its hiatus, that dip became a crater.<\/p>\n<p>Vardy may be back amongst the goals, but Leicester&#8217;s run-in is brutally unforgiving. They will be expected to secure a comfortable win against <span id=\"urn:enhancement-5a5917b9\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Bournemouth<\/span>, but otherwise they have nothing but tricky ties. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-639d26bc\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Arsenal<\/span> away won&#8217;t be easy with the <span id=\"urn:enhancement-54872166\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Gunners<\/span> finally back in form, Sheffield United are no walkovers, either. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-a0907a60\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Spurs<\/span> aren&#8217;t great right now but the potential for <span id=\"urn:enhancement-a35280f3\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-person\">Jos\u00e9 Mourinho<\/span> to force a slip out of <span id=\"urn:enhancement-e80bae02\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-person\">Brendan Rodgers<\/span> with a parked bus is very real. Then they close things out at home to a buoyant\u00a0United who could clinch a return to the promised land with a positive result. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-2289f4b1\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Leicester<\/span> have a monumental task to hold onto their top-four spot.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1131259\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/sbk-sportsbook-app-sign-up-squawka\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1131259\" class=\"wp-image-1131259 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/02\/17092515\/SBK-Explained-1024x576.png\" alt=\"SBK sign up explained | Squawka\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/02\/17092515\/SBK-Explained-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/02\/17092515\/SBK-Explained-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/02\/17092515\/SBK-Explained-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/02\/17092515\/SBK-Explained-66x37.png 66w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/02\/17092515\/SBK-Explained-620x350.png 620w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/02\/17092515\/SBK-Explained-940x530.png 940w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2020\/02\/17092515\/SBK-Explained.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1131259\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">READ MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/sbk-sportsbook-app-sign-up-squawka\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">How to sign up to the new app making waves in sports betting<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<h2><strong>1. Arsenal<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>7th place &#8211; 49 points<br \/>\nForm: <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">LL<\/span><span style=\"color: #339966;\">WWW<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>vs. Leicester (h)<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>vs. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-52e4baaf\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Spurs<\/span> (a)<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>vs. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-166aeb53\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Liverpool<\/span> (h)<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>vs. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-73d28184\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Aston Villa<\/span> (a)<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>vs. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-4a4472d2\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Watford<\/span> (h)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1122422 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2019\/12\/26181419\/mikel-arteta-bournemouth-arsenal-1024x734.jpg\" alt=\"Premier League top-four finish: Ranking run-ins and betting odds | SBK\" width=\"1024\" height=\"734\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2019\/12\/26181419\/mikel-arteta-bournemouth-arsenal.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2019\/12\/26181419\/mikel-arteta-bournemouth-arsenal-300x215.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2019\/12\/26181419\/mikel-arteta-bournemouth-arsenal-768x551.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2019\/12\/26181419\/mikel-arteta-bournemouth-arsenal-66x47.jpg 66w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"urn:enhancement-866b04d1\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">The Gunners<\/span> are in seventh place and with 49 points they are eight points away from fourth. With just five games left to play that is a huge margin to close, but you can&#8217;t have a top-four race without <span id=\"urn:enhancement-4f3ed79e\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Arsenal<\/span>, can you? Their recent form has given them a glimmer of a chance, and Mikel Arteta&#8217;s men will surely make a go of it, but they have to play Leicester, contest a fierce north London Derby against <span id=\"urn:enhancement-b40892bb\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-person\">Mourinho<\/span>&#8216;s <span id=\"urn:enhancement-30627680\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Spurs<\/span> and then take a loss against <span id=\"urn:enhancement-e1a8399\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Liverpool<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>By the time they roll around to what, on paper, are two winnable games against <span id=\"urn:enhancement-51f5d186\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Aston Villa<\/span> and <span id=\"urn:enhancement-5d7ee2f8\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Watford<\/span> they will likely encounter sides fighting for their lives at the very end of a relegation scrap. That will give them the kind of dogged determination and will-to-win which could undo <span id=\"urn:enhancement-2a69072d\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Arsenal<\/span>&#8216;s own ambitions. That is why <span id=\"urn:enhancement-3a52bac3\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Arsenal<\/span> have the hardest run-in: they have three tricky games and then the two so-called easy games will come when the <span id=\"urn:enhancement-7b037b93\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Gunners<\/span> will be tired, beaten up and in no position to fight against sides for whom fighting is all they have left.<\/p>\n<p>However, <span id=\"urn:enhancement-f3103d12\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Arsenal<\/span> will take heart from the possibility that <span id=\"urn:enhancement-42916caf\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Manchester City<\/span> may yet get banned from the Champions League. Should that happen, then City&#8217;s qualification spot would shift one place down in the standings and fifth place \u2013\u00a0 which <span id=\"urn:enhancement-44f4f68\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-organization\">Arsenal<\/span> are only six points off \u2013 could yet grant access to the Champions League. Spurs, Sheffield United, Burnley and others will also take heart from such a scenario so Arsenal have a fight on their hands, but not only with the teams above them in the table.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With the title decided and second-place secured, the only remaining interest at the top of the Premier League table is the race for top four and Champions League qualification for 2020\/21. Leicester City sit third on 58 points, with Chelsea one point behind on 57. 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