Arsenal v Leicester City; Manchester City v Tottenham: who’ll have a ‘Super Sunday’ in the EPL title race?
THIS Sunday sees a defining day in the Premier League title race, with the top four sides facing off. Here’s what can be gained and lost for those involved.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The main UK TV broadcaster of the Premier League likes to bill its second set of live games on a weekend as ‘Super Sunday’. It is a label that occasionally falls flat when, say, the headline act is West Brom against Stoke.
But not this coming Sabbath. A day when all four of the teams with realistic title ambitions intact face off in two mouth-watering matches; Arsenal hosting Leicester City before Tottenham travel to the Emirates to face Manchester City. When we wake up on Monday morning the destination of the trophy may be a little clearer.
Ahead of the biggest day in this season’s championship — until the next one, anyway — we have a look at what is there to be won and lost, and look in to a crystal ball to predict what’s to come.
Leicester City
What’s on offer
Claudio Ranieri’s side could end the weekend seven points clear of the field with victory over Arsenal and a draw in the other blockbuster of the day. They then don’t have to face a side in the current top nine until April, and with only Chelsea away on the final day of the season and a trip to Old Trafford two weeks earlier looking like genuinely tricky fixtures. With no cup distractions they would be entering the home straight with a healthy headstart. Their title to lose and only the pressure of front running and lack of experience able to trip them up.
What’s the danger
Defeat to Arsenal would bring this weekend’s opponents to within two points of them. Allied to a Manchester City win and the four teams would be separated by the value of a single victory. It needn’t be fatal, of course, but the sense of an opportunity lost and momentum passed to Arsenal might get the nerves jangling a touch earlier than if they were to at least get a point at the Emirates.
What will happen
On paper Arsenal are favourites but Leicester have confounded the norm so emphatically for six months there is simply no reason anymore to assume the wheels will fall off. A 3-2 win for the Foxes and more room needed on the already overcrowded bandwagon.
Next three weeks:
Premier League
Arsenal v Leicester, Sun 14 Feb
Premier League
Leicester v Norwich, Sat 27 Feb
Premier League
Leicester v West Brom, Tue 1 Mar
Premier League
Watford v Leicester, Sat 5 Mar
Tottenham
What’s on offer
Spurs have slipped under the radar, to a degree, what with the all consuming joy and excitement of what’s gone down at the Walker Stadium. But they look a solid, well balanced, fit, organised outfit and have shown none of the wobbles of City and Arsenal so far. Youthful confidence abounds. If only they hadn’t drawn so many games early on, games they mostly dominated, too, they would be setting the pace.
Victory over City and the bitter sweet pleasure of their neighbours pegging back Leicester would take them to within touching distance of the cinderella team and four points clear of City. Game on.
What’s the danger
For all the quality of Mauricio Pochettino’s side they will be tested in the run in more than Arsenal and Leicester. Not only because a youthful side has few memories of past successes to draw on when the pressure builds, but with a gruelling Europa League schedule ahead of them a small squad will be stretched. A likely FA Cup run would only add to that.
A trip to Liverpool, the visit of Manchester United, and London derbies with West Ham and Chelsea mean this opportunity may have come a season early for them. It could even be the season they finish above Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal and still don’t take the big prize.
Defeat to Manchester City and an Arsenal win on Monday morning and they will be fourth and playing catch up again under punishing conditions in regards the fixture schedule.
What will happen
Tottenham are hard to beat and there is so much riding on their visit to the Emirates that they are likely to go cagey and safety first. Expect a low scoring draw.
Next three weeks:
Premier League
Manchester City v Tottenham, Sun 14 Feb
Europa League — Round of 32
Fiorentina v Tottenham, Thu 18 Feb
FA Cup — Fifth Round
Tottenham v Crystal Palace, Sun 21 Feb
Europa League — Round of 32
Tottenham v Fiorentina, Thu 25 Feb
Premier League
Tottenham v Swansea, Sun 28 Feb
Premier League
West Ham v Tottenham, Wed 2 Mar
Premier League
Tottenham v Arsenal, Sat 5 Mar
Arsenal
What’s on offer
While this weekend is a deep pool of tension for all four teams, it is perhaps Arsenal who will feel it the most. Constantly questioned over their mental aptitude to sustain a title challenge, and with some traditional rivals blowing up, this is surely the greatest opportunity to win the title in over a decade.
After one of their usual mid-season stutters, taking a single point from three games without scoring a goal, they got back on track last time out with a win over Bournemouth. Victory over Leicester would not only maintain that sense of a bump cleared but reign in one of their main challengers. The positive effect on the club’s psyche would be huge (especially with a likely humbling at the hands of Barcelona in the Champions League just round the corner to contend with).
Victory over Leicester and a draw in the other game and they would be second, and breathing down the Foxes’ neck.
What’s the danger
If a win would restore belief, a defeat would have the polar opposite effect, such is the brittle psychology of Arsene Wenger’s team. Leicester would have eight points on them and Arsenal would be either fourth, should, City beat Spurs or the two sides draw, or third but three points behind their hated neighbours: either way in trouble when that beating from the Catalans is handed out. A spiral of self doubt is difficult to reverse at the Emirates.
What will happen
It’s been a season that has made a fool of those willing to make rash predictions. But we’ve already done that and tipped Leicester, and expect Arsenal to emerge punch drunk from the weekend asking what if?
Next three weeks:
Premier League
Arsenal v Leicester, Sun 14 Feb
FA Cup — Fifth Round
Arsenal v Hull, Sat 20 Feb
Champions League — Round of 16
Arsenal v Barcelona, Tue 23 Feb
Premier League
Man Utd v Arsenal, Sun 28 Feb.
Premier League
Arsenal v Swansea, Wed 2 Mar
Premier League
Tottenham v Arsenal, Sat 5 Mar
Manchester City
What’s on offer
Some redemption and the chance to get things back on track after they contributed to their own downfall against Leicester last week with a jittery, timid response to their opponents’ verve and energy.
Another home match against a title rival so soon after that beat up is an opportunity to respond swiftly. Should they beat Spurs and Arsenal do a job against Leicester, City would be third but within a victory of top spot. Their recent history of closing out titles and a pretty deep squad to cover the large number of injuries they currently have — central defence excepted — would give them a more than even shot at the dash to the line.
What’s the danger
Even more than Spurs, City have a chronically congested end to the season, the victims of their own success in still competing for four trophies this deep in to the season. An FA Cup tie with Chelsea and home and away fixtures against Dynamo Kiev, as well as the small matter of a Cup Final against Liverpool take place in the next month before even considering their Premier League fixtures.
As such, were they to lose to Tottenham and see Arsenal beat Leicester, they would be four points back in fourth place at a critical, and testing, time of the season. Were Leicester to win, then they would be nine points off the pace and relying on the Foxes to implode.
What will happen
It’s a must win match for City against a Tottenham side equally motivated but probably more willing to leave with a point than risk all for the three and so a draw seems the most likely outcome.
Next three weeks:
Premier League
Manchester City v Tottenham, Sun 14 Feb
FA Cup — Fifth Round
Chelsea v Man City, Sun 21 Feb
Champions League — Round of 16
Dynamo Kiev v Man City, Wed 24 Feb.
League Cup — Final
Liverpool v Man City, Sun 28 Feb
Premier League
Liverpool v Man City, Wed 2 Mar
Premier League
Man City v Aston Villa, Sat 5 Mar
More Coverage
Originally published as Arsenal v Leicester City; Manchester City v Tottenham: who’ll have a ‘Super Sunday’ in the EPL title race?
’Very silly’: AFL experts gobsmacked by deal
One club has emerged as big winners of the AFL Draft after pulling off a late deal that appears to have put a rival in serious trouble.
Boxer’s stunning confession after victory
Olympian Paulo Aokuso’s preparation for his boxing grudge match with Clay Waterman was rocked by some huge news.