Arsenal: 4 reasons Premier League top four race is not over

Arsenal: 4 reasons top four race is not over

Arsenal's English striker Eddie Nketiah (C) reacts at the final whistle during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium in London on April 9, 2022. - Brighton won the match 2-1. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

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LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 09: Joel Veltman of Brighton & Hove Albion looks on as a flare is thrown onto the pitch during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion at Emirates Stadium on April 09, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) /

4. This is the Premier League

We can look at rolling xG charts, form and fixture lists and come up with predictions, but rarely ever does anything go as smoothly, or as badly, as initially thought.

Nobody could foresee Arsenal going on a run after the opening three matches that would have them in this position to begin with, just as few predicted Everton would go the opposite way and plunge themselves into a relegation battle.

Things can change quickly in this division. Tottenham went from beating Manchester City to losing away at Burnley. It’s unpredictable to the extreme, which can work in your favour or against you.

Nobody is kidding themselves here about the the scale of the challenge facing Arsenal. They will have to be near perfect across each of their remaining matches and Tottenham will have to drop points in unlikely circumstances. Even then the side must also find solutions to the injuries they’ve suffered and avoid accruing any more.

But one slip up here or there and suddenly the mood shifts. Spurs have just lost Matt Doherty for the season and have to play the dreadful Emerson Royal at right wing-back. Who knows how that could turn out? Who knows how any result could turn out?

Next. Oh Mikel..... dark

Sometimes you’ll just have to cross your fingers. But you wouldn’t cross your fingers if there was no hope at all, right?

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