Manchester City can seal the Premier League title next week with a win against their cross town rivals. The four teams in action on Sunday have a longer way to go to achieve their still attainable goals. Arsenal are in the last eight of the Europa League with CSKA Moscow on the horizon. Stoke have seven games left to climb out of the drop zone to maintain Premier League status. Chelsea are in the FA Cup semifinals, and with a win today can still hope for a top four finish. Tottenham are also into the semifinals of the cup to be played at the current home, and presently hang on to the fourth spot. Let’s take a look at what’s in store today.
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Arsenal vs Stoke
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was heavily transferred into lineups in the Official FPL game, including by yours truly. Goals in his previous two games, a weak Stoke defense, and ineligibility to play in Europe are amongst the various reasons managers have high hopes for the striker this week. Arsene Wenger may choose to rest other regular starters for Thursday as the gunners game against Moscow is the true path back to the Champions League.
Stoke are having a horror season but still have time to rescue it. Xherdan Shaqiri will need to be in inspired form to lift a team that has very solid players but not many match winning talents. Their best hope is to see an Arsenal reserve team at the Emirates today.
Chelsea vs Tottenham
Three losses in Chelsea’s last five league games means it’s pretty much a must win game for Antonio Conte’s men. Currently five points adrift of today’s visitors, they’ll be heading into a summer that will surely involve managerial change along with players wanting to abandon ship. With a loss today, those who can’t find greener pastures will have a season down in the Europa League to mull over their mistakes. Willian is a player in form, and if Hazard on the other flank gets back to his usual high standards there is still hope CL qualification.
Recent history shows that it can all go wrong for Spurs at Stamford Bridge, but they will expect to avoid a similar fate this time around. This is a team in great form right now, and to make matters worse for Chelsea, it’s possible that Harry Kane might return (or at least look menacing from the bench). Heung-Min Son has four goals in his past two; Azpilicueta and others be warned.
My fantasy hopes lie with Aubameyang today in the quest to climb the table from my current position of 307.
To whom are you looking to for points today? Do you see anyone to unload, or anyone for whom you want to make room? And how are your preparations coming for the DGW in week 34? Let us know in the comments as we chat over today’s two matches.