Online Reporter
ENGLISH Premier League football leaders Arsenal face a title test from London rivals Chelsea tomorrow.
Manchester City can keep the pressure on Arsenal with a win at Leeds today, while troubled Tottenham cannot afford another damaging defeat.
Arsenal revitalised their flagging title bid thanks to a meeting between the players prior to their vital 4-1 win at Tottenham on Sunday.
Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze both scored twice in a north London derby rout that came just four days after Arsenal were stunned by a 2-2 draw at bottom of the table Wolves.
The dropped points at Molineux led to questions about Arsenal’s ability to cope with the title tension and Mikel Arteta’s squad responded by thrashing out their issues in crunch talks.
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice said the players spoke to each other in a “firm” way, leading to a cathartic victory at Tottenham that reestablished a five-point lead over second-placed Manchester City.
“It’s important sometimes just to say what you feel and to let it all out in the group,” Gyokeres said ahead of Chelsea’s visit to the Emirates Stadium.
“Most of us spoke. Everyone can recognise how different people feel in the moment and you get a better understanding of the feeling.
“If you’re not honest, I think it’s hard to improve. It was a good chat and now we’re going to prepare for a big game against Chelsea.” Pep Guardiola has warned Arsenal that Manchester City will “never give up” as they chase the seventh Premier League title of his glittering reign.
Guardiola’s side won 2-1 against Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium last weekend to keep the destiny of the title in their hands.
Although Arsenal are five points ahead, City have a game in hand and host the Gunners in April.
If City win their last 11 matches, they are guaranteed to win the title no matter what Arsenal do in their remaining 10 games.
“When I was at Spurs and we drew 2-2 someone said why don’t we drop the Premier League and focus on the cups. I said, ‘No, why? Let’s go, let’s try’,” Guardiola said before City’s trip to Leeds today.
“Many things are going to happen. Never give up. Ten or 11 games is a lot of games in the Premier League.”
Facing the grim prospect of crashing into the second tier for the first time since 1977-78, Tottenham desperately need to slow their plunge towards the Championship by winning at Fulham tomorrow.
Igor Tudor’s first game as interim boss ended in a chastening 4-1 defeat against arch-rivals Arsenal, leaving Tottenham perilously poised just four points above the relegation zone.
Tottenham have 11 games to save themselves from humiliation, but Tudor is hampered by a lengthy injury list and a confidence crisis triggered by the team’s nine-match winless run.
“Of course there is enough time (to survive),” Tudor said.
“Stay humble, that is the key for each of us. Try to become what I said before: a hard-working team. That is the only goal we have now in this moment.”
Fixtures:
Today (all 5pm unless stated): Bournemouth v Sunderland (2:30pm), Burnley v Brentford, Liverpool v West Ham, Newcastle v Everton, Leeds v Man City (7:30pm)
Tomorrow (all 4pm unless stated): Brighton v Nottingham Forest, Fulham v Tottenham, Manchester United v Crystal Palace, Arsenal v Chelsea (6:30pm) – AFP Sport.
