Arsenal’s hopes of securing a Premier League top-four finish are under threat as football expert Charles Watts warns that a defeat to Chelsea in Sunday’s London derby could put their Champions League qualification at serious risk.
With the Gunners now 15 points behind league leaders Liverpool and having failed to win any of their last three matches against West Ham, Nottingham Forest, and Manchester United, their title hopes have all but faded. Instead, their focus must now shift to securing a spot in the top four to avoid missing out on next season’s Champions League.
Currently, Arsenal sit four points ahead of Nottingham Forest and hold an eight-point cushion over Manchester City and Newcastle United. However, a defeat to Chelsea would see the Blues close the gap to just three points, making the race for the top four even tighter.
Speaking to softfootball, Watts stressed the importance of the Chelsea clash, stating, “You’re not looking at Liverpool anymore; they’re far ahead. For Arsenal, it’s about winning enough games to secure a Champions League spot. If you’re not scoring goals, you’re going to struggle to do that.”
Arsenal’s recent struggles in front of goal are a major concern. They’ve managed just one goal in their last three Premier League games, with Declan Rice’s stunning equalizer against Manchester United ending their goal drought. Despite dominating possession at Old Trafford, the Gunners created few clear-cut chances and were fortunate to avoid defeat.
Chelsea, on the other hand, have also faced attacking issues. Their 1-0 win over Leicester City and identical Conference League victory against Copenhagen lacked attacking bite, and with striker Nicolas Jackson injured and Cole Palmer struggling for form, they too are desperate for a breakthrough.
Watts believes that Sunday’s clash will likely be decided by a moment of individual brilliance, saying, “It doesn’t look like a goal fest. Both teams are struggling to score. It might take a moment of magic, like Cucurella’s strike for Chelsea or Rice’s goal for Arsenal, to win it.”
Arsenal’s recent Champions League success against PSV Eindhoven, where they advanced to the quarter-finals with a 9-3 aggregate win, provides some hope. However, with Chelsea loanee Raheem Sterling ineligible to face his parent club, Arsenal will likely turn to 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who could become the youngest Premier League scorer if he finds the net.
With just ten games remaining, Arsenal must find a way to overcome their attacking struggles and secure a crucial win against Chelsea to maintain their top-four position.