League leaders Arsenal must banish their untimely bout of title race anxiety as the wobbling Premier League leaders head to Tottenham for the north London derby on Sunday.
Manchester City can pile pressure on Arsenal with a win against Newcastle, while Michael Carrick heads to Everton aiming to bolster his bid to become Manchester United’s permanent manager.
The Gunners are in danger of blowing a commanding position in the title race after successive draws against Brentford and Wolves left them with just two wins in their last seven league matches.
Arsenal squandered the lead in both matches, with Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at bottom of the table Wolves especially galling as they conceded a stoppage-time equaliser having led 2-0.
The Gunners are five points clear of second-placed Manchester City, but Pep Guardiola’s team have a game in hand and will host the leaders in April.
After allowing City to overhaul them in the 2023 and 2024 title races, the north Londoners, who haven’t won silverware since the 2020 FA Cup, face pointed questions about their ability to handle the mounting tension.
Tijjani Reijnders has warned Arsenal that Manchester City are primed to pounce after the leaders allowed them back into the title race. Victories over Liverpool and Fulham have put City in a position to capitalise on the Gunners’ slump.
Pep Guardiola’s side will move two points behind Arsenal if they beat Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, putting extra heat on the leaders before the north London derby 24 hours later.
Below are the Premier League fixtures scheduled for the weekend:
SATURDAY
Aston Villa v Leeds
Brentford v Brighton
Chelsea v Burnley
Manchester City v Newcastle
West Ham v Bournemouth
SUNDAY
Crystal Palace v Wolves
Nottingham Forest v Liverpool
Sunderland v Fulham
Tottenham v Arsenal
MONDAY
Everton v Manchester United
