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Fixture list gives Arsenal hope of snatching top 6 finish

By on March 31, 2021

Mikel Arteta Arsenal

A favourable run-in means Arsenal still have an outside chance of snatching a top six finish in the Premier League this season.

It’s certainly been a disappointing domestic campaign for Arsenal so far. We went into the 2020/21 season hoping to make a real push for the top four after an encouraging summer in the transfer market that saw us sign the likes of Thomas Partey, Gabriel and Willian – who had been excellent for Chelsea the previous year.

However, while there have been clear signs of progress in some areas, we’ve still struggled to find a consistent run of form and currently languish way down in ninth in the Premier League table having won just 12 of our 29 games.

Everton and Liverpool are four points ahead in seventh/eighth, Tottenham are six points ahead in sixth while West Ham are a further point adrift in fifth so on the face of it, it appears highly unlikely Arsenal will make up enough ground to finish in the top six.

The bookmakers certainly don’t think Arsenal stand a chance as we’re currently priced at 6/1 to finish in the top six. Man City, Man Utd, Leicester and Chelsea are expected to make-up the top four with Liverpool and Tottenham backed to finish fifth and sixth. You can bet with 1xbet or other leading bookies but even West Ham and Everton are tipped to finish above us so it’s an outside bet to back Arsenal at this point.

Obviously Arsenal’s league position doesn’t instil much confidence but it’s worth noting that our run-in is one of the easiest on paper compared to our rivals. We welcome Liverpool to the Emirates after the international break but the majority of the remaining eight games are very winnable.

In fact, Arsenal will play the current bottom five clubs during our last eight fixtures so we should be confident of picking up plenty of points against Fulham, Newcastle, Brighton, West Brom and Sheffield United – especially as three of these games will be at home.

The game against Everton at the Emirates in late April could be crucial in determining who finishes in the top six while it’s likely Arsenal will need a positive result away to Crystal Palace on the penultimate weekend of the season.

The only game which is almost certainly going to end in defeat is the trip to Stamford Bridge to face an in-form Chelsea side in May. Otherwise, Arsenal should be confident of winning at least five of the other seven fixtures.

If we could pick up a result against Liverpool next weekend, beat the bottom five clubs and do the business against Everton then Arsenal could make a real push to finish in the top six and qualify for Europa via the Premier League – something that looked almost impossible a few weeks ago.