Today marks the final day of the 2012/2013 Premier league season and all eyes will be on Tottenham and Arsenal as they
battle to secure top a four finish. With the Premier league title already
decided, along with the three relegation places, it is the battle for the Final
Champions league spot that is set to get the most attention this weekend.
There are of course significant afternoons for
Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes as they take charge of Manchester United and
Everton respectively for the final time, but Arsenal and Spurs are the team
under pressure.
Going into the final day, it is the Gunners
that have a point advantage and if they win at Newcastle, they are guaranteed
fourth position at the very least. However, if Arsene Wenger’s men drop points
in the North East, Tottenham will leapfrog them if they beat Sunderland at White
Hart Lane. They are definitely still in with a chance.
Arsenal could still finish in the third place
too- thus avoiding Champions League playoff matches but that is subject to
Chelsea having an off day at home to Everton. Arsenal is currently two points shy
of Chelsea and their goal difference is inferior only by a lone goal.
If Chelsea pulls a draw against Everton and
Arsenal beat Newcastle 2-1 then the two clubs will level on points, goals
scored and goals conceded.
If the extra game is required, then the winner
will enter the Champions league group stages automatically, with the loser
having to come through a qualification round.
Meanwhile, the Premier League has confirmed
that if Chelsea and Arsenal finish dead level today, they will hold a
third-fourth play-off at Villa Park on May 26. The kick-off time is yet to be
confirmed but the Premier League is already making contingency plans should the
two London clubs fail to be separated after the final day of the season.
What is at stake is a desire to stay at the
top and to play top-level European football, says Wenger.
“When you finish the season strong - like we
do - you already prepare for next season because you go with more certainty,”
he said. “Last year we had a new team and we have built up some belief.
Meanwhile Tottenham Manager, Andre Villas Boas says “We have to do
our job and independent of results elsewhere, we want the achievement of
reaching 72 points”. We have to win and it’s not that straight forward. The
ingredients of the game are dangerous. We have to be aware and we have to focus
on our task.
The determination is there. We’ll focus on our job, that’s most important
and we’ll see what happens after that.
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