By Raman Hariharan –
Arsenal fans have been trying new things or learning a new hobby as other teams participate in glorious European nights. Their club’s inability to qualify for none of the three European tournaments speaks volumes of their previous season, as supporters have had to wait entire weeks to see their team in action.
Hopefully, the same fans have understood the importance of finishing in the top-four, which Arsenal regularly did under Arsene Wenger, never after leaving. The legendary manager was consistently berated and criticised for his inability to challenge for titles in the final few years of his tenure.
In any case, the Gunners are somewhat in the mix this season to achieve a European finish, probably for the Champions League, although they have plenty of work to do. More so, they have quite a few challengers vying for that one spot, as Manchester United, West Ham United and some other outside bets ready to challenge.
From the looks of it, the race for the fourth spot could be as interesting as the chase for the Premier League title. The question is, who has what it takes to finish in fourth when the season ends?
Which positions qualify for Europe?
The teams that finish in the top four get to play in the Champions League. So far, Chelsea is leading the Premier League table, with Manchester City a point behind and Liverpool in a close third. It looks like a three-horse race for the title, while West Ham United currently occupies the fourth spot on the table.
The fifth and sixth teams will play the second-tier Europa League. Finally, the seventh-placed team plays in the new Europa Conference League, where Tottenham are the first-ever English participant in the competition.
Who are the contenders to finish fourth this season?
As things stand, with 24-points, West Ham United, occupying the fourth spot, are one of the favourites. Arsenal is just a point behind them in fifth with 23-points, and so far, this season have looked like a contender. Manchester United closed the gap on the Gunners to just 2-points after beating them recently.
Wolves also have 21-points and could be an outside bet to finish in European places if not the top-four. Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspurs, Brighton and even Crystal Palace could be in the mix if they perform well between now and the end of the season. However, keeping the focus on the top-four race seems like a possible four-horse race, as we analyse who has a better chance.
West Ham United
David Moyes has kept his team’s levels consistent since last January as they ended up finishing in Europa league places. This term, West Ham started a level better by setting the pace early in the season and now sit in an optimistic fourth place on the table. The Hammer have shown good quality in attack and beat title contenders Liverpool, ending their unbeaten start to the season.
However, West Ham competes in multiple competitions, including the Europa League, EFL Cup, and the Premier League. Moyes may not have the ideal squad depth to go the distance for the number of games to be played. They rely a lot on players like Said Benrahma, Michail Antonio, Pablo Fornals and Declan Rice, as one injury to a key player could disrupt their season.
They already have key defender Angelo Ogbonna out for the season with an ACL injury and are thin in defence. However, West Ham can use the January transfer window to address the squad depth issue and recruit smartly to finish in the top four. On a probability chance, the Hammers certainly have an opportunity here to get into the Champions League next season, as they will also be hoping clubs like Manchester United and Arsenal have a bad time.
Arsenal
The Gunners are in the mix after a difficult start to the season. They lost their first three games and since then went on an 8-game unbeaten run in the league. Their form has helped them rise to fifth on the table and with a shot at challenging West Ham for a Champions League spot. Arsenal’s defence is drastically improved this season, while goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale looks like the signing of the summer. According to Whoscored, Ramsdale has the best rating for any keepers in the Premier League.
As an advantage to Mikel Arteta, Arsenal does not have European football to play this season. It helps the team recover and recuperates with ease as they have nearly a week between games, unlike their rivals who play midweek games in the Champions League and Europa League. The idea has worked so far in their favour, but the manager hasn’t been able to solve challenges, such as beating the top teams.
Arsenal’s latest defeat to Manchester United highlighted the team’s inability to compete with top sides this season directly. They have lost their games against Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United. The next real test would be against West Ham when both teams meet in a crunch clash later this month. A victory in that game and a general level of consistency could help the Gunners reach a good level on the table and cement their reputation as contenders.
On their chances to finish in the top four, Arsenal certainly have a great opportunity to compete with their rivals and not just collect points from lower-ranked teams. However, their season could be defined by the next few games and what activity they conduct in the
January transfer window.
Manchester United
Manchester United are the last team to be considered a real contender for the top four spots. In an ideal world, they should not fall into this category at all. Considering their squad quality, signings and last season’s finish, the Red Devils should be among those challenging for the Premier League title. When they sighed players such as Raphael Varane, Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo, they were automatically spoken in the same breath as Manchester City, Chelsea or Liverpool.
Despite starting their season in style, Manchester United have suffered morale-sapping defeats to their biggest rivals which also saw the departure of manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. They have since appointed senior German manager Ralf Rangnick on an interim basis, and he is expected to improve their results vastly.
Rangnick and their squad quality could be a perfect match to challenge for a top-four spot at the end of the season. Manchester United’s win over Arsenal on Thursday night should be treated as a start of a new era and an upturn in form. The main problem has been integrating all those attacking players properly to develop the team into a lethal force.
On their chances, Manchester United probably have the best chance to finish in Champions League places this season as they have the quality to do so, more than Arsenal or West Ham. If they are to repeat their problems from this season later, they might find themselves in trouble again and possibly end up finishing in Europa League places, which is not what the fans are used to.
Verdict
All three of those sides have a fantastic chance to stake their claim this season. Their squad depth, quality and other elements make them stand apart from the other teams below them. Realistically, their form between now and the end of the season, especially in crucial games, will be key to determining their standing.
Arsenal have a chance if they perform consistently and keep their players fit. West Ham also holds a good opportunity to progress based on their decisions in the January window.
Finally, Manchester United will have to figure out their playing system and utilise the plethora of attacking talents available at their disposal. Who wins the chase will be known by the end of the current campaign?
Who do you think will finish in the top four places in the Premier League? Let us know in the comments below.
