How the mighty have fallen. After looking like Premier League title contenders for half of the 2013-14 season, Arsene Wenger's Arsenal is in danger of missing the Champions League for the first time under the manager's tenure. Arsenal, which has struggled in big games on the road this year, lost arguably its most important remaining match on Sunday in a 3-0 blowout by Everton.
Everton is now one point behind Arsenal with a game in hand and if both teams win out their remaining matches, the Everton would finish fourth and Arsenal would wind up in fifth place; that would place the team in the Europa League during the 2014-15 season instead of in a Champions League playoff.
Of course that task will be tough for both sides. Arsenal's schedule down the stretch is rather easy compared with Everton's. The Gunners face off against West Ham United, Hull City, Newcastle United, West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City. Two of those teams are in the fight to avoid relegation while the other three are in the middle of the table. The hardest match by far for Arsenal is the one with Newcastle, which has a record of 14 wins, four draws and 15 losses. Fortunately, Arsenal takes them on at home where they have a record of 10 wins, five draws and one loss. Three of Arsenal's final five matches are at home. The two away games are at Hull City and Norwich City; neither side has won more than seven games at home.
Everton's schedule is a bit more complicated. The team travels to last-place Sunderland in its next match. Then it hosts Crystal Palace and Manchester United. The first match should not cause Roberto Martinez's side much trouble, but the second could be a disaster. Manchester United has seemingly found its edge in the last few games and will look for revenge from the 1-0 loss at the Old Trafford back in December. The following game is at Southampton, which has a record of seven wins, five draws and four losses at home. The most difficult match of Everton's last five games is the one against Manchester City. Manuel Pellegrini's troops have not been great on the road but they are in the midst of an important title chase and need to pick up a win on the road in order to have any hopes of winning the title in 2013-14. This will be a huge match for both sides and should present the biggest challenge for Everton.
The final game at Hull City will also be tricky; Hull City has a record of seven wins, four draws and six losses at home. Any loss of points in this game, even in a tie, could put Everton's hopes of finishing fourth on hold.
Prediction: Everton loses points against Manchester City and one of Hull City or Sunderland, while Arsenal manages to finish its season on a high and winds up with fourth place.
Do you think that Arsenal or Everton will finish fourth in the Premier League?
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