Gunners playing for the title and prestige over Spurs

The battle goes on. Will Arsenal lift the Premier League trophy for the first time since 2004, or will Manchester City bring home yet another trophy, they're fifth in the last six years. We will find out soon enough, but in the meantime, the Gunners need to win, not stumble like in the last two games, when the draws against Liverpool and West Ham created an uncomfortable four points difference with Manchester City (and the Citizens have a game in hand). And it seems that they couldn’t have a more favourable fixture than tonight.

At home, against the last placed Southampton, with an option to put additional pressure on City with a possible seven points difference and to get an extra sweety for the fans: if they win tonight, Arsenal will finish ahead of their arch-rivals Tottenham for the first time since 2016. The rivalry is big, and the fact that seven years passed since the Gunners were better placed than the Spurs says a lot about the state of both clubs. But now, the fans are hoping that the tide will turn on their side for years to come. Coach Mikel Arteta doesn’t have too many dilemmas about the starting 11 since Takehiro Tomiyasu, Mohamed Elneny, and Oleksandr Zinchenko are injured for some time anyway, and he doesn’t have a dilemma about the potential penalty taker.

Wenger worried about Chelsea, backs Arsenal to win the title

After Bukayo Saka’s crucial penalty miss against West Ham and the death threats he received afterwards, Arteta decided to keep things as they were. Asked if he will keep young England international as the penalty taker, the Spaniard was very clear. 

“Yes! If not, I will go on the pitch and throw him the ball and make sure he takes the next one. That’s the way he is. He loves responsibility but as well, he puts a lot on his shoulders” explained Arteta.

Rio Ferdinand triggers rumours of Arteta's move to Real

Apart from the fans, there is another person not named Pep Guardiola who follows Arsenal’s results closely. Moises Caicedo is the star of the upcoming June transfer window, and in January, he was a subject of a 70 million pound bid from the Gunners. He wanted to come, even spoke about it publicly, but Brighton simply said ‘no’. It is expected that Arsenal and other clubs as well will go after Caicedo in the summer, but the Seagulls midfielder has his favourite club. When asked if he want Arsenal to win the title, he responded:

“Of course. I hope so but let's see. I’d seen a lot of Arsenal before knowing that there was a possibility of me signing for them. I watched them and I liked them because they have very young, talented players and some stars, but they always have that mindset of wanting more. I was really close to going. I suffered a lot” he said to The Telegraph.

PREMIER LEAGUE - ROUND 32

Friday

22:00: (1.20) Arsenal (6.75) Southampton (14.0)

Saturday

14:30: (2.45) Fulham (3.50) Leeds (3.05)

17:00: (2.60) Brentford (3.35) Aston Villa (2.90)

17:00: (2.15) Crystal Palace (3.30) Everton (3.90)

17:00: (2.50) Leicester (3.35) Wolverhampton (3.05)

17:00: (1.20) Liverpool (7.75) Nott.Forest (16.0)

Manchester United - Chelsea POSTPONED

Sunday

16:00: (2.95) Bournemouth (3.25) West Ham (2.65)

16:00: (1.90) Newcastle (3.50) Tottenham (4.10)

Brighton - Manchester City POSTPONED

***odds are subject to change***