United took a giant step towards a domestic/European double this season on Tuesday night and can go one better this weekend as they visit the Emirates to face Arsenal. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side hardly broke sweat in the Champions League clash with Schalke and so can field as strong a side as he wants. Arsenal is still a wounded beast though.
Their gradual descent has left water bottles everywhere quivering as to what abuse Arsene Wenger might subject them to next as the professor becomes ever more nutty by the week. On the other hand this is a clash that Arsenal probably has more chance in than many others this season. There’s no pressure on them as they now sit in third, a position they really like. United is a juggernaut of a side that grinds out results but a few moments of brilliance could easily undo their defence.
The other side still in the picture as far as the Premier League title is concerned are Chelsea who welcome Tottenham to Stamford Bridge knowing a win could take them to within three points of the Mancunians. One thing that will give the blue side of South West London more optimism is that Tottenham hasn’t won at the Bridge since 1990 and have looked rather worse for wear in recent weeks.
Spurs are still in a mad dash for fourth place and a Champions League spot but haven’t been the same since Real Madrid thoroughly outclassed them in the Champions League quarterfinal. Man City currently occupy fourth place and look fairly safe to make the Champions League next season as they take on relegation cannon-fodder West Ham on Sunday afternoon. A loss could make things interesting in the battle for fourth place. West Ham isn’t the type to not lie down and die so you can expect a glut of goals for City.
