Tottenham and Chelsea look to finish season strongly with top 4 finish

The race for the Champions League spots has been a topsy turvy battle all season. The fact that with just 2 matches remaining, it is possible for 4 sides to finish in 3rd and 4th place in the Premier League has led us to a gripping sub plot to the incredible title race between Manchester City and Liverpool.

Tottenham and Chelsea occupy 3rd and 4th spots respectively, making them the two favourites for the top 4, whilst Arsenal and Manchester United are still in with a chance of finishing in the Champions League places.

3 of these teams are also still fighting in Europe, with Tottenham facing a decisive tie in Amsterdam in the Champions League Semi-final and Chelsea and Arsenal both in strong positions to reach the Europa League final, which is another route to Champions League football.

Tottenham have 70 points and need just one win from their last two games to assure them of a place in the Champions League. Chelsea are on 68 points and with a win would be virtually assured of a place depending on results elsewhere. Arsenal have 66 points and will likely have to win both of their games to qualify for the first time in 3 years, whilst Manchester United will have to win both of their games barring a bizarre set of results, with even the maximum points likely to leave them short.

We analyse what we think will happen this weekend, and look ahead to the final table.

Tottenham: 3rd (70 points)

On paper Tottenham have a very simple route into Champions League football, needing just one victory from their remaining two games to be assured of elite European football. However, with Spurs in Champions League Semi-Final action just four days after this weekend's tie with Bournemouth, will they be able to fully focus on the job in hand?

The two matches Tottenham have, at the Vitality stadium before taking on Everton at home a week later are not the easiest but they are by no means the hardest. 

Chelsea: 4th (68 points)

Chelsea have had a strange season, with the London side unbeaten until a 3-1 defeat to Spurs in late November quickly unravelled a string of poor defeats. However, with the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford last week, Chelsea are in pole postion to claim the last remaining spot in the Champions League for next season. Whilst they must focus on the Europa League too, one victory from their remaining two games would leave them all but qualified for the Champions League. 

Chelsea face Watford at home on Sunday, before ending the season with a tough tie against in form Leicester on the last day.

Arsenal: 5th (66 points)

Arsenal, like Chelsea have had a slightly surreal season, they started slowly, before going 22 games undefeated in all competitions, finding themselves in a great position 5 matches ago. But having lost 4 of their last 5 Premier League matches (and their last 3 in a row) they are now outsiders for the top 4. Arsenal's away form has been a major cause for concern too, with only victories against Huddersfield and Watford coming away from the Emirates since Christmas. 

Arsenal face Brighton at home, and although Brighton are still scrapping for survival in the Premier League, it is expected Arsenal will have no trouble with the comforts of the Emirates. The away tie at Burnley on the last day is a different story however, with Burnley in excellent form and Turf Moor a tough place to go for Arsenal.

Manchester United: 6th (65 points)

Whilst United were languishing behind at one point, the arrival of Ole Gunna Solskjaer had given them a genuine chance of finishing in the top 4. However, a run of poor results, including a 4-0 trouncing at Everton before the draw with Chelsea, have left United needing some luck elsewhere.

United do have some very favourable games to end the season, with relegated Huddersfield, and potentially relegated Cardiff City their last two matches. Winning both will give them a chance, but they will need Chelsea and Arsenal to slip up at least once, and score a lot of goals to overcome the large gap between the sides. 

Predicted finish:

With Tottenham needing to pick up just 3 points to guarantee survival, it seems unfeasible that they will not make the top 4, Chelsea have 2 relatively hard games, but should they defeat Watford on Sunday they will be all but assured of Champions League football. Arsenal will likely have to win both of their matches, and with their away form that seems unlikely, whilst Manchester United must win both games and score a lot of goals to make up the goal difference, giving them a hard task. 

3rd: Tottenham 74 points

4th: Chelsea 72 points

5th: Manchester United 71 points

6th Arsenal 69 points