Mikel Arteta takes his second-placed Arsenal to Premier League champions Liverpool this evening looking for the second win in six matches.
Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa are also still battling for top-five placings with three matches remaining.
The Gunners are 15 points behind Arne Slot’s Liverpool and only two clear of third-placed Manchester City and four ahead of Newcastle United and Chelsea. “We’ve done a step backwards. With the points we have created, it’s clear we haven’t done as well as last season; that’s obvious,” said Arteta, who felt Arsenal could have won two titles in different circumstances.
They have registered more than 80 points in each of the two seasons before this one, a tally greater than some championship-winning sides have managed in the Premier League era. They are currently on 67 to Liverpool’s 82.
Arteta said Liverpool fully deserved a guard of honour from Arsenal players at Anfield, and it would serve as further motivation for the next campaign. “If somebody is better, you have to approve and accept and try to reach that level,” he said.
The Spaniard said Arsenal intended to finish on a high and “make sure that we make ourselves proud at least to compete and end in the manner that we deserve”.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving for Real Madrid, Slot was asked if 21-year-old Conor Bradley — tipped by British media as the potential successor — was ready to step in, the Dutchman said it was too early to make the comparison. “Let’s not compare him with Trent now already. They are also different types in my opinion,” he said.
“With Conor, I think we all see the potential ... unfortunately he hasn’t been fit throughout the whole season. To become a very good player, you have to be available every single week as well, and that’s the first step he has to take next season. But we have a lot of confidence in Conor as a very good fullback for Liverpool and that’s already what he’s shown in the past two seasons.”
Slot said Bradley, who has started only four league games this term after struggling with multiple injuries, including a thigh issue in February that sidelined him for nearly six weeks, will be in the team this evening. “Conor is going to start because I think he needs playing time to get some games under his belt to be prepared for next season,” he said.
Slot added that it was hard to predict how the match will turn out, with Liverpool having won the title last month. “Difficult to predict but both teams look forward to this game. Okay, maybe there’s is a bit at stake for Arsenal, top four, assume they prefer second to third or fourth, we can only finish as first,” he added.
Arsenal were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris St Germain in the semifinals on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, after assuring their place in the Uefa Conference League final on Thursday night, fifth-place Chelsea must refocus on their pursuit of a Champions League berth in today’s tricky trip to fourth-place Newcastle.
Both teams would qualify if they could maintain their current league status. Newcastle holds the edge between the sides based on more goals scored. However, only four points separate third from seventh place heading into the third-to-last Premier League match day.
Chelsea has a tough stretch ahead, with their home finale against Uefa Europa League finalist Manchester United to follow today’s clash. They close the season at sixth-place Nottingham Forest. “It’s a big one, it’s a huge one,” Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said of facing Newcastle.
“Manchester United will be a big one. Forest will be a big one. Each of them will be big games, and [today], it’s the chance to start in the right way. We are on a good run, in a good mood, and hopefully we can play a good game and win.”
— Field Level Media
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