Arsenal have the easier games in the Premier League title run-in compared to Manchester City
Alan Shearer has claimed Arsenal will breeze through their final two Premier League fixtures, coming up with a theory ahead of Crystal Palace hosting the Gunners on the final day of the season. Palace will enter that encounter just days before their Europa Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano – the club’s first European final in their history.
The Premier League title race looks set to be decided on the final day, with Arsenal taking another significant step by securing a crucial three points in a 1-0 victory over West Ham United, despite late VAR controversy. Manchester City’s 3-0 triumph over Brentford on Saturday had temporarily reduced the gap to two points, with Arsenal maintaining a superior goal difference by just a single goal.
After the Gunners’ victory, the advantage stretched to five points, though City still possess their game in hand against Palace which will take place on Wednesday (May 13th). Victory in that match would reduce the margin back to two points.
Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our City WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our City Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.
On paper, Arsenal face a more straightforward run-in than City, meeting Burnley at home before travelling to Palace on the final day. City, by contrast, visit Bournemouth before welcoming Aston Villa in their own finale.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Shearer felt that Arsenal will approach those final two fixtures with confidence, especially the visit to Selhurst Park.
He indicated Palace may deploy a ‘reserves’ side, given their Europa Conference League final arrives just three days after the Premier League campaign ends on May 27.
“They have to be [confident],” the Newcastle United legend said. “I mean, Burnley at home and Palace away. Palace are going to play a reserve team and that’s up to them by the way, because they’ve earned that right to do that.
“It’s their football club and they’ve got an agenda that they need to protect themselves in terms of winning their trophy, so they’re entitled to put whatever team out they want. So yeah, they have to be super confident don’t they?”
Micah Richards, who is backing City for the title, interjected, adding: “But it’s not, it’s not going to be. I mean, on paper, yes. But look at the QPR game with Man City, you think that was going to be an easy game – it wasn’t.
“I just feel as though, yeah they probably will get it done now and they’ve got to be super confident. Totally agree, but Palace.
“He’s going to play second string but players who have got something to prove also so that can be sometimes be the hardest games, you know?”
Arsenal could secure two major trophies this campaign, also in Champions League final action against current holder Paris Saint-Germain on May 30. “They’ve been phenomenal,” Mikel Arteta said of his players after the tough win over West Ham.
“The courage, determination and quality they’ve shown all week as well, there’s so much at stake with everything we’ve done for 10 months, and now is the moment that matters.
“The beauty of that is that we haven’t done it alone, we’ve done it with our supporters and they’ve been phenomenal, incredible. You can see what they’ve done today in this stadium yet again, so thank you, so, so much – it feels like a big moment.”
