Premier League reactions: Arsenal and Spurs faltering
The latest Premier League matchday witnessed — to echo Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta — several teams facing significant challenges. Arsenal’s hold on the title is weakening as Manchester City continues to close the gap. The competition for UEFA Champions League spots is intensifying, while Tottenham Hotspur find themselves precariously close to relegation at the bottom of the standings.
Numerous opinions have emerged following the weekend’s matches, and as we approach the next set of fixtures — similar to our coverage of NFL and rugby union — we examine some quick assessments to determine if they are overreactions or valid observations.
We begin with Arsenal and consider whether anxiety is affecting their performance.
Jump to:
Are Arsenal’s title aspirations fading?
Can De Zerbi prevent Spurs from relegation?
Is Ngumoha prepared to succeed Salah?
Will Chelsea miss out on Champions League qualification?
Is Brentford’s Andrews the coach of the year?
Arsenal’s title ambitions are dwindling
When Arsenal secured a late winner against Everton in mid-March and Manchester City was held by West Ham United, the title appeared destined for the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal held a nine-point advantage. Was the job done? Not exactly. A month later, following a week where Southampton eliminated Arsenal from the FA Cup and Bournemouth triumphed on Saturday, Arsenal is faltering. This title race now resembles a toss-up between Mikel Arteta’s team and Pep Guardiola’s.
Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION
Throughout the Premier League’s 33-year history, certain moments are revisited repeatedly. For every replay of Sergio Aguero’s title-winning goal for Man City in 2012, there are countless recaps of Manchester United’s missed opportunities to secure a title-clinching goal against West Ham in 1995. The series of blocks from West Ham’s defenders, the eventual shot that went wide, and the despondent expression on Alex Ferguson’s face remain forever contrasted with Kenny Dalglish celebrating a title with Blackburn Rovers. This iconic moment encapsulates the harsh realities of football’s fine margins.
One wonders if the sound of booing from the Emirates Stadium directed at Arsenal on Saturday, along with a montage of missed chances like Viktor GyΓΆkeres’ shot over the bar from close range and Γlex JimΓ©nez’s last-minute tackle on Gabriel, will be remembered as the moment Arsenal’s title aspirations slipped away.
To invoke Mike Tyson’s words, Arsenal must determine if their strategy remains effective after facing setbacks, and the true test will be how they navigate the upcoming week. First, they face Sporting on Wednesday in the Champions League quarterfinals, followed by a crucial match against Manchester City on Sunday.
What works in Arsenal’s favor is simple mathematics: If they win their remaining matches (or even secure a draw at the Etihad Stadium), the title is theirs. However, the psychological aspect cannot be ignored. City understands what it takes to win titles: they have claimed six in the last eight years under Pep Guardiola, while Arsenal carries the burden of a 22-year title drought.
If City triumph over Arsenal this weekend, the momentum will shift to Guardiola’s side, but this Arsenal team possesses the depth and quality to achieve their goals. They can secure a victory at Manchester City on Sunday if they manage to rise above the distractions and trust in the methods that have brought them this far. In summary, this title race is poised to go down to the final matches.
De Zerbi lacks time to rescue Spurs from relegation
Even the hiring of Roberto De Zerbi could not stop Spurs’ poor form as they fell 1-0 to Sunderland on Sunday — they have only managed to secure five points in the league this year. In contrast, their closest competitors: West Ham have garnered 18 points in 2026, Leeds United 16, and Nottingham Forest 15.
With West Ham and Leeds winning in the latest matchweek and Forest earning a point, Spurs are now the frontrunners to join Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers in relegation. They trail West Ham (and safety) by two points with six matches remaining.
Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION
Spurs’ players are feeling the pressure of potential relegation. De Zerbi has only been in charge for a short time, but he is acutely aware that the fear of dropping down has taken hold of his squad.
West Ham, Leeds, and Forest are accustomed to battling against relegation. Spurs’ players are not — where is the leadership? The image of injured captain Cristian Romero leaving the pitch in tears 70 minutes into their eventual 1-0 loss to Sunderland encapsulates Spurs’ situation. His absence for the remainder of the season only adds to the gloom. The team is disintegrating.
De Zerbi asserts that they need just one victory to shift the atmosphere — perhaps that will occur against Brighton on Saturday. However, that win has been elusive for much of this year. While their closest rivals are finding ways to accumulate points, Spurs are consistently falling short, suffering from years of poor transfer decisions, instability behind the scenes, and misguided managerial choices. They have six matches left; winning a couple of those could restore optimism. But achieving that is far easier said than done.
Liverpool’s Salah successor is already within the squad
This season has showcased numerous promising young talents. Max Dowman, 16, has made a name for himself at Arsenal, while Rio Ngumoha delivered another standout performance for Liverpool on Saturday, scoring in a 2-0 victory over Fulham. His first goal at Anfield, in just his second Premier League start, was remarkable, making him Liverpool’s youngest-ever league goal scorer at home. He skillfully maneuvered past Timothy Castagne and then executed a perfectly curled shot into the far corner of Bernd Leno’s net.
As Liverpool prepares for life after Salah, it is time to support Ngumoha and invest in other areas. He is ready to step into Salah’s significant role.
Verdict: OVERREACTION
Ngumoha is a unique talent. In what has been a challenging season filled with many uncertainties for Liverpool, Ngumoha’s emergence has been a bright spot. Witnessing him score Liverpool’s first goal against Fulham on Saturday while sharing the scoresheet with Salah presents a delightful contrast between the club’s future and past.
Liverpool must approach this summer’s transfer window with caution. Following their substantial spending last year, any new signings should focus on evolution rather than revolution. However, one area they are expected to strengthen is the wing position, as they seek a replacement for Salah.
Ngumoha’s goal was a spectacular moment and further proof of his remarkable talent and immense potential. Yet Liverpool still needs to bolster their squad this summer — it is premature to depend solely on Ngumoha. He thrives on the left flank, so he would not be a direct replacement for Salah. But envision a forward line featuring him on one side and RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande on the other. That could be a partnership for the long term.
Let him develop at his own pace, without drawing comparisons to departing Liverpool legends.
Chelsea’s Champions League qualification hopes are diminishing
Liam Rosenior’s team suffered a 3-0 defeat to Man City on Sunday. They now find themselves seven points behind Villa in fourth place and four points behind Liverpool in fifth. That gap is too significant for them to bridge.
Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION
Chelsea’s recent form has been poor. They lost to City on Sunday, suffered a similar 3-0 defeat to Everton on March 21, and fell to Newcastle 1-0 on March 14. Adding to their woes is the heavy defeat they experienced against PSG, indicating a team that is losing momentum at a critical juncture. Their upcoming Premier League fixtures are also challenging — they face Man United (home), Brighton (away), Nottingham Forest (home), Liverpool (away), Tottenham (home), and Sunderland (away). This includes two teams competing for the top four and two fighting against relegation. Additionally, they have recently suspended their captain Enzo FernΓ‘ndez for their last two matches. In summary, the situation is far from favorable.
This season has been another tumultuous one at Stamford Bridge: ongoing recruitment efforts, the departure of former coach Enzo Maresca, and the hiring of Rosenior. However, much of this turmoil is not Rosenior’s doing. He has inherited a squad lacking balance in terms of experience; it is a team designed for the future, not the present. They urgently need Reece James to return to fitness, and they have also faced unfortunate injury issues with first-choice center backs Trevoh Chalobah and Levi Colwill sidelined.
There are numerous off-field challenges for Rosenior to manage, in addition to addressing their on-field inconsistencies. Ultimately, their current form and the fixture schedule suggest that their chances of breaking into the top five are diminishing with each match.
Brentford’s Keith Andrews merits consideration for Manager of the Year
When Brentford appointed set piece coach Keith Andrews as the successor to Thomas Frank last summer, it raised some eyebrows. However, having guided the Bees to seventh place in the Premier League, Andrews should be a strong contender for coach of the year. This is his first managerial role, and he has handled it with remarkable composure.
Verdict: OVERREACTION (for now)
Allow me to explain: Andrews deserves to be in the conversation for manager of the year. Brentford is unfortunately familiar with summers of upheaval. They have seen some of their top players depart in the past, and last summer was no exception with Bryan Mbeumo moving to Manchester United, Yoane Wissa joining Newcastle, Christian Norgaard transferring to Arsenal, first-choice goalkeeper Mark Flekken signing with Bayer Leverkusen, and manager Frank taking the reins at Spurs.
Given these circumstances, few would have predicted Brentford would be comfortably positioned in the top half of the table with only a few matches remaining in the season. Brentford’s recruitment strategy is the envy of many across Europe, and it has proven effective once again, while Andrews has seamlessly filled the void left by Frank. If anything, the team has progressed.
Other managers will also be in contention. If Arsenal clinches the league title, Arteta will likely be awarded Manager of the Year. Additionally, Sunderland’s Regis Le Bris and David Moyes at Everton deserve recognition. This is why we categorize this as an overreaction. It is premature to award this title, but Andrews deserves significant praise for his accomplishments in west London.
