Arsenal face a looking check of their title credentials within the hurly-burly of a north London derby this weekend as in-form Manchester United host defending champions Manchester City. There are additionally a number of clashes between groups on the mistaken finish of the desk, with Frank Lampard‘s nosediving Everton aspect travelling to basement membership Southampton. Liverpool know they can’t afford too many extra stumbles whereas it’s crunch time for Graham Potter’s Chelsea, who’re properly adrift of the Champions League qualifying locations.
AFP Sport takes a have a look at among the key speaking factors forward of the motion.
Arsenal eye Spurs scalp
Mikel Arteta‘s younger Arsenal group are in the midst of a run of fixtures that would make or break their title problem.
They can be eager to get again to profitable methods on the residence of their fiercest rivals on Sunday after a goalless draw with high-flying Newcastle final week. Manchester United are the following guests to the Emirates whereas City come calling in February.
Arsenal, with just one league defeat this time period, are 5 factors away from City on the high of the Premier League desk with almost half the season gone.
Tottenham Hotspur have been inconsistent however are inside touching distance of the highest 4 and haven’t suffered a house league defeat towards Arsenal since 2014.
Emile Smith Rowe, who returned this week after an extended damage lay-off, believes the Gunners can use defeat at Tottenham final season as added motivation for the journey to their native rivals.
Arsenal had been comfortably overwhelmed 3-0 at Spurs in May, shedding the impetus within the battle for a top-four end, with Tottenham ending above them within the desk.
“We are going to train really hard and we will use the energy, how we felt last year, and use it going into the game,” stated Smith Rowe.
City face resurgent United
Old Trafford has been a cheerful searching floor for Pep Guardiola’s males in recent times — they’ve solely misplaced twice there within the league since 2011.
City put United to the sword on the Etihad in early October, hammering their rivals 6-3 to underline their place as high canines within the metropolis.
But that proved a turning level for brand new United supervisor Eric ten Hag, whose group have misplaced simply as soon as in all competitions since that dismal day and the Red Devils are simply 4 factors behind City.
Marcus Rashford is the person in kind for United, scoring seven occasions since getting back from World Cup obligation in Qatar, the place he impressed for England.
City have proven a couple of uncharacteristic chinks of their armour this season, dropping factors towards struggling Everton on December 31 and struggling a shock 2-0 loss towards Southampton within the League Cup this week.
Guardiola is aware of his aspect should enhance at Old Trafford after the quarter-final defeat on the south coast.
“Every game is different, different competition,” he stated. “But of course, if we perform in this way, we will not have a chance.”
Everton face must-win match
How for much longer will Everton preserve religion with Frank Lampard?
The Merseyside group have misplaced 4 of their previous 5 Premier League video games and are mired within the relegation zone — simply three factors above basement membership Southampton, whom they host on Saturday.
Everton haven’t been relegated from the English top-flight since 1951 regardless of some shut shaves, together with final season.
Everton proprietor Farhad Moshiri has insisted he retains perception in each supervisor Lampard and the board of administrators at Goodison Park.
“I am confident that we have skilled, experienced and focused professionals at all levels of the club,” he stated. “We are all agreed that our current league position must and will improve.”
Fixtures (1500 GMT until acknowledged)
Friday
Aston Villa v Leeds (2000)
Saturday
Man Utd v Man City (1230), Brighton v Liverpool, Everton v Southampton, Nottingham Forest v Leicester, Wolves v West Ham, Brentford v Bournemouth (1730)
Sunday
Chelsea v Crystal Palace (1400), Newcastle v Fulham (1400), Tottenham v Arsenal (1630)
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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