Race for Champions League spots hots up

The English Premier League title and relegation may be done and dusted, but the race for Champions League spots is just hotting up with six teams below champions Liverpool fighting to finish in the top five. Here are three key talking points.

Gabriel Magalhaes a big miss for Arsenal

With just three wins in their last 10 league matches, and trailing Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 going into the second leg in their Champions League semi-final, it seems like Arsenal’s season is going off the boil at the worst possible time.

For the 2-1 defeat by Bournemouth, they made just two changes from the starting line-up for the midweek loss to PSG. All of a sudden, from challenging Liverpool for the league title, the Gunners are now warily looking over their shoulders as there remains a realistic chance they could slip out of the top five and miss out on the Champions League final.

Arsenal’s recent dip in form has coincided with the injury absence of their key centre-back Magalhaes, who has been sidelined with a hamstring issue. During his eight-match absence, the team managed only three victories: both legs of their Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid and a Premier League win over Ipswich.

The Brazilian, one half of their first-choice central defence pairing along with William Saliba, had been immense at both ends of pitch when he has played, contributing five goals and three assists in 42 games and playing a key role in EPL’s best defence.

While Jakub Kiwior has tried his best to fill in, he was powerless to stop Dean Huijsen from heading in a throw-in before Evanilson stole in to score off Marcus Tavernier’s flick-on from a corner.

From a team who have used set-pieces to deadly effect, Arsenal now seem so vulnerable while defending them, and it could compound a season that had looked so promising not long ago.

City look for strong end to build for future

Belatedly, Manchester City’s season has clicked into gear as their 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers made it nine games unbeaten in all competitions and a fifth clean sheet during this period.

While their historic fifth consecutive league title hopes ended due to dropped points in November and December, all is not lost in this disappointing season. Champions League qualification remains in their control, and they could still claim silverware with an FA Cup final victory over Crystal Palace on May 17.

Chief striker Erling Haaland was back on the bench after missing six games with an ankle injury, but was not brought on as Pep Guardiola casts an eye on rebuilding for the future.

Nico O’Reilly has been a revelation at left-back as the 20-year-old adds stability and control to City’s play in only his first senior season.

On the left, he has also struck a solid partnership with 22-year-old Jeremy Doku, who is finally showing signs of consistency. Following his assist for Matheus Nunes’ winner against Aston Villa on April 22, Doku picked out fellow Belgian Kevin de Bruyne for the only goal against Wolves.

These are his first goal contributions since January, and while he is an adept dribbler, there remains questions over his end product, which he needs to answer if he wants to be a key part of City’s new era for next season.

Cole Palmer turns up the heat again

Palmer had a red-hot start to his Chelsea career when he grabbed 39 goals in 69 games in all competitions across two seasons before his output clammed up in January, when he went on an 18-game run without a goal.

But the 22-year-old attacker was back to his best in the 3-1 win over champions Liverpool. Not only did he score a late penalty, he was also ranked first among the Chelsea players in terms of chances created, duels won, interceptions, possession won, shots and touches in the opponents’ box, as he deservedly picked up the Player of the Match award.

In his typical nonchalant manner, he said of the criticisms hurled at him in recent months: “Social media nowadays is full of idiots, the trolls and whatever. I don’t pay any attention to that. To score today, I’m happy, but I’ve got to keep improving and try to reach new levels.

“If you’re getting chances and not scoring... you’re letting your team down at the end of the day. I feel like I’m mentally strong anyway so whatever people say, it doesn’t bother me.

“I’ve had it all the time growing up. I feel pride in helping the team and if I’m not doing that, I’m not happy.”

Palmer’s return to form is vital for Enzo Maresca’s side as they have arguably the toughest run-in in the chase for a top-five finish, with matches against Newcastle United, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest coming up.