Route to the Top Four: what's in store now?

The weekend saw some very entertaining football across the Premier League. There were only two games on Sunday, but they went a long way in dictating who will finish in the top four in the search for Champions League football and gave us all plenty to chew on (in more ways than one) as the Premier League winds down with clubs all across the nation having only four (in some cases five) games remaining. Each one of those games is important to every team in the Premier League.

Robin van Persie is close to winning his first Premier League medal after his much publicised move to Manchester United from Arsenal last August. (Getty Images)

Manchester United will be the ones most glad for tonight’s results. Tottenham Hotspur‘s thrilling come from behind win against city rivals Manchester City means they Citizens’ attempts to waylay their far more prestigious opponents has all but come to an end. The Red Devils will be conferred their record-breaking 20th league title if (and when) they beat Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Monday.

Even if they don’t they have four games after that game, away against Arsenal, home to Chelsea, Swansea at Old Trafford and West Bromwich Albion away on the final day of the season. Lifting the Premier League title at the Emirates will be a particularly poignant moment for former Gunner Robin van Persie, who left Ashburton Grove last summer in search of silverware and is now so close to it, he can finally taste it. United will also be hoping to top the 95-point mark set by Chelsea when they won the title in 2004, establishing another record in the process.

Also breathing a sigh of relief will be third-placed Arsenal, who now have the opportunity for Champions League qualification back in their own hands. While Tottenham did pick up a 3-1 win against City, they still remain in fifth and outside the Champions League spots, with the gap between the North Londoners just two points.

Chelsea could have leapfrogged Arsenal into third place had they beaten Liverpool at Anfield, but a 2-2 draw has put paid to that, at least for the time being. Both Chelsea and Tottenham face each other on the 8th of May, a game which will surely play a pivotal role in deciding who qualifies for Europe. That is also the one game in hand that the two clubs have over Arsenal, who have four extremely tricky trips left in the league.

They face Manchester United next weekend, and the Red Devils – who will surely be crowned Premier League Champions either by then or at the Emirates – are not one to give quarter. Robin van Persie will be anticipating an extremely hostile reception given the manner in which he left London, but the Gunners must be focused on the bigger picture. They face Queens Park Rangers on the road and Wigan Athletic at home before wrapping up their season away at Newcastle. All three teams are locked in a relegation scrap and will be playing some of the best football they have this season. Arsenal – traditionally chokers at this stage – will need to win all their remaining games.

Manchester City have tried to delay their city rivals for as long as possible this season, but they have bigger concerns to worry about now. The gap between them and fifth-placed Spurs is now only seven points and Arsenal have only a five-point gap between themselves and second place.

The result against Spurs doesn’t help matters but Roberto Mancini’s men have to pick themselves up and move on. That being said, they have one of the easiest run-ins in comparison to the teams around them. The five teams they face are West Ham (H), Swansea (A), West Bromwich Albion (H) and Reading (A) before ending their season at home to Norwich.

But as the Premier League draws to an end, every game automatically becomes more important. None of the teams they face are pushovers, and there is always that modicum of prestige attached to beating the reigning Premier League Champions. In addition, Norwich are just above the relegation zone in terms of points and will commit everything to make sure they are not given that scare and Reading are firmly ensconced in the bottom three.

Manchester City Manager Roberto Mancini (R) may have conceded the title after the 3-1 defeat to Totenham Hotspur, while Andre Villas-Boas would look to consolidate a Champions League spot. (Getty Images)

It was a great day for Tottenham Hotspur. The return of Gareth Bale and the confidence the White Hart Lane outfit will earn from this game will hold them in good stead for the rest of the season. Having brought the curtain down on a woeful run of games that saw them pick up only one win in seven games.

While a resounding win over the defending champions is always a proud day, what will inspire Spurs further is the manner in which they won. Despite going down so early in the game, they showed great resilience to orchestrate a comeback in no small part to Welshman Bale and Andre Villas-Boas’ substitutes, who would have also gained confidence because of the part they played in influencing proceedings.

Spurs may still be fifth in the table, but the gap between themselves and fourth-placed Chelsea is only a point. The two teams face each other on the eighth of May and between now and then, Spurs can ensure qualification for Europe is in their own hands by beating Wigan at the DW Stadium and Southampton at the Lane.

Both teams are dangerous, however and must be treated with caution. Wigan are caught in a relegation dogfight and will battle tooth and nail to climb out of it. Mauricio Pochettino’s Southampton are also not a team to take lightly, having shown battling qualities when they beat Liverpool 3-1 at St. Mary’s Stadium earlier this year. An trip away to Stoke and a home fixture against Sunderland are Spurs’ final fixtures of the season.

Rafael Benitez, interim manager of Chelsea waves to the Liverpool fans prior to the match. The Spaniard knows qualification for next season’s Champions League is a must. (Getty Images)

Rafael Benitez may only be interim manager and is off in the summer, but he can ensure Chelsea finish in the top four by winning the Europa League semifinalists’ remaining games. The result at Anfield was more a case of two points dropped than a point gained for the former Liverpool manager and with one of the best squads money can buy, qualification for next season’s Champions League is surely a must.

He cannot afford to discount Swansea, who beat them at the Bridge in the League Cup semifinal en route to the trophy and will be gunning for a repeat. That game is followed by a trip to Old Trafford – not desirable at this stage of the season – before playing Tottenham Hotspur at home. Aston Villa are battling relegation and Everton are still in with an outside chance of qualifying for Europe next season, which means the Spaniard’s side has a fixture list littered with potential banana skins.

All of these clubs will want a sweet fruit, not a slippery skin come the end of the season. Unfortunately, at least one of them is going to take the fall.