MY ACCOUNT
Tottenham’s 3-1 win over West Ham on Sunday not only secured some local pride but also boosted their top-four hopes.
Six points separate the teams sitting fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh in the Premier League, with Arsenal currently leading the race on 54 points.
The Gunners have three more than Spurs, are four better off than Manchester United and six ahead of the Hammers.
Mikel Arteta’s men have also played a game or two less than their rivals.
But as with those teams behind them, questions over their consistency to see the job out in the battle for a Champions League berth remain.
Spurs lay down a marker
Spurs’ 3-1 win over their London rivals could prove the catalyst for Antonio Conte’s side.
Heung-Min Son’s two goals, both of which were assisted by Harry Kane, not only boosted Tottenham’s top-four hopes but perhaps also ended West Ham’s own bid at the same time.
The Son-Kane connection did not quite click before Christmas but Sunday’s double means they have now linked up for 39 Premier League goals during their time together — and the pair may well be coming good at the right time.
Arsenal in the ascendancy
Arteta has gone through plenty of ups and downs at Arsenal but is enjoying a golden period having seen his side win six of their last seven games.
Crunch time for the Gunners could come when they take on London rivals Chelsea on April 20 before facing United three days later and then travelling to West Ham on May 1.
With three winnable games coming after that tricky run, they will hope to still have control of their own fate.
But having not qualified for the Champions League since 2015-16, would they prefer to have the points on the board instead of having games in hand?
Tottenham’s toughest game yet looks set to come away at Liverpool on May 7. But there will also be the small matter of a North London derby to come which will go a long way to deciding the final standings.
For United, as well as facing Arsenal on April 23, the Red Devils take on Liverpool four days earlier and are at home to Chelsea on the penultimate weekend of the campaign.
While current holders Chelsea and Liverpool still have hopes of winning the Champions League, West Ham are also eyeing success abroad having been drawn against Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals.
Domestically, they are set to meet Chelsea and Arsenal in the run-in, while they host Manchester City in their penultimate Premier League game.
The Hammers’ improvement under David Moyes has been incredible and a first piece of silverware since 1980 might become their priority if the Scot and his players feel they have lost too much ground in the top-four race.
Victory in May’s Europa League showpiece in Seville will guarantee a spot in next season’s Champions League group stage and Moyes will know his side are just five games away from potential glory.
United still a mystery
United have endured another strange season.
Having been knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid, they will now miss out on silverware for a fifth straight campaign.
The Red Devils are set to appoint a new manager at the end of the season but their favoured candidates, believed to be Paris Saint-Germain’s Mauricio Pochettino and Ajax’s Erik ten Hag, may be reluctant to take on a side not involved in the Champions League.
United’s recent league results have been surprisingly good, losing only one of their last 10.
But with tough away assignments at Anfield and the Emirates to come they will need to find consistency to usurp their top-four rivals in North London.
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