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Defending champions Manchester Metropolis moved to the highest of the desk with their 3-1 victory at Arsenal on Wednesday evening.
The importance of the result’s underlined by the very fact it is just the third time in Premier League historical past {that a} second-placed group have crushed the leaders to go prime within the second half of a season.
Encouragingly for Man Metropolis, each of the earlier groups to win such a pivotal showdown went on to raise the trophy. Chelsea received at Manchester United in April 2010 and in the end pipped their rivals by one level, whereas Man Metropolis beat Man Utd in April 2012 forward of the Premier League’s closest ever end.
See: Arsenal v Man Metropolis – Second-half tweaks proved decisive
This time there are nonetheless three months of the marketing campaign remaining. However with Arsenal resulting from go to Man Metropolis with six matches left, we could possibly be heading for one more April title decider.
Earlier than then there will likely be loads of twists and turns, so we have a look at what lies forward and whether or not anybody could make it a three-horse race.
For the primary time since 5 November, Metropolis are prime of the Premier League.
The way of their victory will give them an actual increase and on paper their subsequent 5 fixtures evaluate favourably to Arsenal’s, with Pep Guardiola’s group going through 4 of the league’s backside 9 sides.
Man Metropolis go to Nottingham Forest on Saturday earlier than going through AFC Bournemouth, Newcastle United, Crystal Palace and West Ham United.
Title rivals’ fixtures in contrast
Matchweek | Man Metropolis | Arsenal |
---|---|---|
24 | NFO (A) | AVL (A) |
25 | BOU (A) | LEI (A) |
EVE (H) | ||
26 | NEW (H) | BOU (H) |
27 | CRY (A) | FUL (A) |
28 | WHU (H) | CRY (H) |
For Arsenal, the timing of their first dwelling defeat of the season couldn’t have been worse.
They’ve claimed just one level from their final three matches and their run of fixtures is difficult.
They’re shortly again in motion in Saturday’s early kick-off, going through a difficult journey to Aston Villa and a reunion with their former supervisor Unai Emery, earlier than taking up a resurgent Leicester Metropolis.
Nonetheless, the Gunners nonetheless have their future in their very own arms.
If they will keep in contact with Metropolis throughout their subsequent two outings, they’d have an opportunity to reclaim prime spot after they play their match in hand at dwelling to Everton on Wednesday 1 March.
That’s adopted by a house fixture in opposition to AFC Bournemouth on the identical day as Man Metropolis face Newcastle United.
Metropolis’s victory additionally bodes effectively for the opposite groups within the prime 4, with Arsenal failing to increase their lead on the prime.
Manchester United are solely 5 factors behind the leaders, are in sturdy type and do not need to face both of the 2 groups once more this season.
Nonetheless, their subsequent 5 fixtures will present a stern check.
Erik ten Hag’s facet host a Leicester facet who’ve scored 4 objectives in successive matches, earlier than travelling to Liverpool, both facet of the EFL Cup ultimate in opposition to Newcastle.
Man Utd then welcome Southampton earlier than visiting two opponents with European ambitions: Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle.
Man Utd and Newcastle fixtures
Matchweek | Man Utd | Newcastle |
---|---|---|
24 | LEI (H) | LIV (H) |
25 | EFL Cup ultimate | EFL Cup ultimate |
26 | LIV (A) | MCI (A) |
27 | SOU (H) | WOL (H) |
28 | BHA (A) | NFO (A) |
29 | NEW (A) | MUN (H) |
Newcastle have been the hardest group to beat this season, having solely misplaced as soon as, and they’re solely 5 factors behind Man Utd with a match in hand.
Their type has dipped, with just one win of their final six matches, and their subsequent two Premier League fixtures are in opposition to Liverpool and Man Metropolis.
But when they will return to their finest, their dwelling league fixture in opposition to Man Utd in the beginning of April could possibly be of nice significance.
No matter occurs, the Magpies are set to have a giant say in who wins the title.
Additionally on this sequence
Half 1: Haaland equals membership document as Metropolis go prime of the desk
Half 2: Arsenal v Man Metropolis: Second-half tweaks proved decisive
Half 3: Guardiola: Arsenal are nonetheless prime of the league