MANCHESTER:
Arsenal have no time to get over their injuries after losing Premier League leaders Manchester City as the Gunners look to end a four-game losing streak the win at Aston Villa on Saturday.
City must end Nottingham Forest’s five-month unbeaten run at the City Ground in the league if they are to maintain their momentum towards a fifth in six seasons.
Liverpool’s trip to Newcastle could have a huge impact on who finishes in the top four come the end of the season, but there is a huge six-point penalty at the end down as Leeds visit Everton.
AFP Sport looks at some of the key talking points ahead of this weekend’s finals.
Arsenal’s unbeaten home run ended on Wednesday as City thrashed the Emirates 3-1 and went top for the first time since November in the process.
After only seven points in their first 19 league games, Arsenal conceded eight in the last three after losing to Everton and drawing 1-1 with Brentford.
“I’m more confident than I was before the game,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said after the defeat at City.
“With the performance and the high level of the team, we had the feeling that we could defeat them, until the second goal we scored.
“But we gave them three goals and the game in the end. Some mistakes in this situation, you can’t make. At the same time, the level was very high.”
Only City lead in goal difference and Arsenal still have a game on their plate.
A win at Villa Park will right the boat for Arteta’s side, but there are fears fatigue and injuries are starting to plague a young team.
Prominent player Thomas Partey is expected to miss Saturday’s match with a muscle injury, while Gabriel Jesus remains injured.
Liverpool’s first league win of 2023 against Everton on Monday night put the Reds back in contention for the top four.
Jurgen Klopp’s side still have a lot to do if they are to qualify for the Champions League for a seventh season.
Liverpool are nine points behind fourth-placed Newcastle but have a game in hand on the Magpies and the chance to cut that gap in St. James’ Park on Saturday.
Newcastle’s only league game of the season came at Anfield in August.
But five results in their last six games have slowed their move to a Champions League place for the first time in 20 years.
A change in form for West Ham, Wolves and Leicester means it looks more likely that one if not Leeds and Everton will face the drop.
The Toffees were brought back to reality in the Merseyside derby on Monday when Arsenal were stunned by Sean Dyche’s first game.
Everton’s struggle for goals will not be helped by the continued absence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin through injury.
“The Arsenal game was a reminder of how good we are here,” said Dyche. “The truth is that in the critical department there are few options that you would want in the Premier League, especially for a big club and the expectations of its fans.”
Leeds remain in charge of Michael Skubala after failing to deliver a series of goals to replace Jesse Marsch as manager.
Skubala saw two good performances against Manchester United last week, but they only managed one as Leeds remained without a win in the league since November.
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