5 matches that will decide the destination of the Premier League title

Chelsea will have a major say on who wins this seasonAs perennial challenger and 13-time champion Ferguson might’ve put it, ‘squeaky bum time’ is almost upon us.With only 12 games to go until that day in May, the Premier League title is still a 4-way scramble between Arsenal, Manchester City, Leicester and Tottenham (yes, you read that right!). As unbelievable as it seemed at the end of last season, it is the latter two who look like they are closer to dreamland. However, as Arsenal have shown with their clinical double over leaders Leicester and City’s track record coming from behind late in the season, the experience is crucial.The Premier League’s traditional Big Four looks shattered. Jamie Vardy and Dele Alli have replaced Eden Hazard and Wayne Rooney as the talismans of the strongest teams. Liverpool are lurching from exciting to naive under Klopp and their Merseyside rivals, Everton, have forgotten how to defend. It’s all set to be one of the most memorable league seasons in living memory.As we all know though, nothing is a given in the Premier League. City looked down and out in both of their recent title wins until Aguero dragged them over the finish line. Arsenal haven’t been closer to the title since 2004, and Petr Cech will be looking to retain it. Let’s take a look at which matches will crown some champions and banish others to the land of nearly-men. The title race is on!

#1 Tottenham vs. Arsenal (5 March 2016)

Kane will be crucial to Tottenham's chances

The annual celebrations - but mostly mockery - that accompany the day when it’s mathematically impossible for Spurs to finish above Arsenal might go completely quiet this year. It’s been 20 years of yearly pain and banter in North London - at Tottenham’s expense. While Arsenal haven’t won the title in over a decade, it has often been enough for them to have a quick laugh at their most loathed rival’s expense.

Tottenham look a completely reformed unit this time around and will want to end the Arsenal fans’ banter. Boasting ‘their very own’ Harry Kane, on 19 goals this season, Eriksen and Co will look to unleash him upon the often-suspect Arsenal defence. With Mertesacker’s pace - Gabriel’s indiscipline - frequently being exploited by stronger teams, Spurs will fancy their chance in this match.

Arsenal fans, meanwhile, will look to their magician Ozil and the powerful Giroud to combine to devastating effect. They’ve been quite splendid this season, and will fancy themselves to get a result at the White Hart Lane.

Level on points with 51 (only 2 behind Leicester), this match is poised to descend into a heinous, manic, furious North London derby. With City behind them and only runaway leaders Leicester in front, both managers will impress upon their men that this is a mega-high stakes game.

Winner takes all - the glory, the banter, and maybe even the title?

#2 Chelsea vs. Manchester City (16 April 2016)

After watching his youngsters get routed 5-1 at the Bridge, outgoing manager Pellegrini might not be so generous to the champions next time. Having dismantled them 3-0 at the Etihad in a ruthless performance that exposed all of the champions’ weaknesses, he’ll fancy a better result.

In fact, he will need it if he is to make City’s owners rue their decision to replace him.

While playing away to Chelsea is normally a momentous task, this season has been very different for the reigning champions. Unfortunately, City have failed to capitalise on Chelsea’s implosion. With his team 6 points adrift from the runaway leaders, they will have to get a result here. As Chelsea battle to stay away from the dreaded relegation zone, this one promises fireworks. Tasty battles all over the pitch (Terry vs. Aguero, Kompany vs. Costa) are sure to crackle in the open game the two sides will be forced to play.

Chelsea can’t defend, and if Kompany is injured neither can City. They were the main contenders in the past 2 years and are both smarting from heavy defeats inflicted upon the other. A cracker in the making!

#3 Chelsea vs. Tottenham (30 April 2016)

Chelsea will look to salvage some pride against Spurs

They’ve gone from strength to strength and remained just out of sight right until the going got tough. Then, the brilliant Pochettino and his men rallied to begin an almost unstoppable title march. Emphatic triumphs over City (home and away) would not beat the sweet glory of condemning London rivals Chelsea to the scrapheap while simultaneously taking their crown. To do that, they will have to do something no Spurs side has done in over 25 years - win at Stamford Bridge!

Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink will not take this lightly, as half of his two losses in 30+ Chelsea matches came against Tottenham. That was back in his first stint when he had a much stronger squad and Tottenham had a more porous one. Today, the tables are turned and its Chelsea trying to be the party-poopers.

While the reverse fixture ended 0-0 earlier in the season, Pochettino was denied his first trophy by Mourinho’s men last year. This is a perfect chance to set the record straight and finally, pay Chelsea back for dumping Redknapp’s team out of the Champions League. Winning this one would surely confirm this Spurs team as the strongest (mentally) in a quarter of a decade.

Oh, and do we need to mention that this is a feisty London derby?

#4 Manchester City vs. Arsenal (7 May 2016)

For all the critics claiming he is inflexible and incapable of deviating from his philosophy, it was a slap in the face. Arsenal went to the Etihad and put in a top-drawer away performance to win 2-0, defending doggedly and strangling City’s midfield. The diminutive Cazorla bossed and harried the Citizens midfield, scoring one and setting up another. It was highly un-Arsenal-like, highly unexpected and highly entertaining. To put a further gloss on it, Ozil demolished them at the Emirates this season with two typical Ozil assists.

However, none of that will scare Manuel Pellegrini. After all, Arsenal went up to the Etihad not too long ago and conceded six. In that game, City didn’t hold back, they didn’t complicate their football and Arsenal were too open for City’s lightning-fast runners. Whilst the Citizens have strengthened greatly with De Bruyne and Sterling, Arsenal have only signed a keeper and a defensive midfielder. Will that be enough to stop the Citizens from running riot?

Only time will tell, but pressure will have a major say in it. As it stands, Arsenal can afford to go for a draw but City have to go all-out attacking. Will that play into Wenger’s hands or will Arsenal implode as the pressure gets going?

#5 Chelsea vs. Leicester (15 May 2016)

While the side in blue put up a very good fight, the title-chasers had the star quality to crush their plucky opponents at their very home. Chants of ‘campiones, campiones’ rang around the stadium, hailing England’s finest.

This year, on the final day of the 2015/2016 league season, the very same match could be repeated. Except this time, its basement-boys Leicester who are the runaway champions, and a slowly awakening Chelsea who play plucky hosts. That time, Drogba, Terry and Ramires hit the highlight reel. In the reverse fixture this season, it was the deadly duo of Mahrez and Vardy who stole the show with two spectacular goals.

It’ll be the last day. Chelsea will be fighting for their pride (or to survive), and Leicester City will be 90 minutes away from one of football’s greatest achievements. It’s Leicester who rose 20 spots from the bottom to the very top in only one year. It’s Leicester that put the nail in the coffin for the Special One’s Return. It’s Leicester who’ve taken Chelsea’s spot at the top. And that day, it’ll be Leicester vying to stride into the Champions League as England’s prime representative next season.

Fallen champions vs champions-elect. Ranieri vs Abramovich, the man who sacked him. Robert Huth to once again pick up a league medal at Stamford Bridge. The made-men vs the money-men. This season’s fighters vs this season’s mutineers. It will be the biggest battle of their lives. Surely so for the men who’ve fought so gallantly for the right to step into the Bridge looking for the final 3 points that could make them legends.

It doesn’t get any bigger than this.