Metro's end-of-season hot takes: Arsenal to stumble? Relegation looming for Spurs?

The season is reaching its climax (Pictures: Getty/Reuters)

With the end-of-season run-in well and truly upon us, Metro has assembled its finest minds to predict how the final few weeks of the season will unfold.

In the Premier League , Arsenal appear to be sitting pretty with a nine-point advantage over Manchester City . But should recent results have Gunners fans concerned ahead of the final seven matches?

Manchester United ’s good form has seen Michael Carrick ’s side vault into the top five, but who will secure the remaining places in the top five and a precious spot in next season’s Champions League ?

Elsewhere, City still hold out hope of a cup double after progressing to the FA Cup semi-finals, while Arsenal remain the only English side left in Europe’s premier cup competition.

And at the other end of the table, Tottenham have recruited their third manager of the season, but have it all to do to avoid an embarrassing relegation one year after triumphing in the Europa League.

How will it all pan out? Read on to see our predictions…

Arsenal have a healthy advantage in the title race (Picture: Getty)

A sobering Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City and FA Cup exit at Championship Southampton have seen the usual demons occupy the waking thoughts of every Arsenal fan – fears that have not been dispelled by a 1-0 win at Sporting, where their goalkeeper was man of the match.

It’s a stark contrast to the wildly cathartic scenes sparked by Max Dowman’s clinching goal in their last Premier League outing, a 2-0 win over Everton way back on March 14.

A lot has happened since and yet, in terms of the title race, nothing has changed. Arsenal remain nine (9!) points clear of City with seven games to go.

Yes, they could lose at the Etihad and Guardiola’s men can win their game in hand against Crystal Palace. But if Arsenal beat five of Bournemouth, Newcastle, Fulham, West Ham, Burnley and Palace – and draw the other game – they will be champions. And trust me, they will be champions. Demons, be gone!

Gavin Brown, Assistant Sports Editor

Liverpool are in danger of missing out on the top five (Picture: Getty)

Arne Slot’s Liverpool tenure has unravelled at a remarkable rate, with a limp 2-0 away defeat to Paris Saint-Germain the latest sign that the Dutchman is running out of ideas.

Just two wins in the Reds’ last eight games in all competitions means they enter the final stretch of games bang out of form. And with a Merseyside derby, as well as games against United, Chelsea and Aston Villa in their final seven, it’s hard to make a case for Liverpool remaining in the final Champions League spot.

Chelsea, or even Brentford and Everton lurking below, could be the beneficiaries, but it’s clear that missing out on the Champions League would represent a major step back for Liverpool and one that may ultimately force a managerial change over the summer.

Ben Fleming, Sports Reporter

Tottenham sit one point above the bottom three (Picture: Getty)

After calling Thomas Frank’s sacking in Metro’s pre-season predictions, I’ll continue on a similar trend and forecast yet more misery for Tottenham.

Igor Tudor’s wretched 44-day reign felt doomed from the outset and change was needed… I’m just not convinced Roberto De Zerbi is the right appointment for this do-or-die moment, with tough contests against Sunderland, Villa, Chelsea and Everton still to come.

De Zerbi’s philosophy is well established: a possession-heavy, high-press brand of football, reliant on intricate build-up play under pressure. But it takes time to learn and hone this craft – time Spurs do not have.

With James Maddison out injured, it’s become glaringly obvious that Tottenham lack players capable of progressing the ball through tight spaces, a fundamental requirement in order for De Zerbi’s style to function.

The Italian failed to win any of his first five games during his first Premier League stint with Brighton. For Tottenham, I fear history could repeat itself here.

Wolves and Burnley are toast, Forest *should* be fine, and while West Ham currently occupy the relegation zone, I’ve seen enough fight in their recent matches with Fulham, Brentford, Manchester City and Leeds to persuade me they’ll be okay, just.

Tom Olver, Assistant Sports Editor

Bruno Fernandes has been a standout player this season (Picture: Getty)

According to the bookies, all bets are off when it comes to crowning the 2025/26 player of the year, with Declan Rice 4/7 with Paddy Power to take top honours.

He has been a brilliant driving force for Arsenal and England fans will keep everything crossed that he carries his fine form and deadly dead-ball deliveries into the World Cup.

But the question is, is he the right man for it? Team-mate Gabriel has a real case as an absolute titan for the league’s meanest defence and a menace in both boxes. If opponents hate facing you, you’re doing something right.

The other outstanding candidate is Bruno Fernandes, who, in my opinion, would be a worthy winner. He’s carried Manchester United, both when they were struggling under Ruben Amorim and in the brighter days under Michael Carrick.

Yeah, he likes a good moan, but who doesn’t? United’s leader, creator-in-chief and biggest threat. Insane stats, with 16 assists – twice as many as anyone else – despite Amorim playing him too deep for too long.

Shining in a well-oiled machine is one thing. Operating like a Rolls-Royce in a misfiring one takes something special.

Dave Filmer, Deputy Sports Editor

Chelsea are into the FA Cup semi-finals (Picture: Getty)

It would be typical of Chelsea to finish a disappointing and turbulent season on and off the pitch by casually winning the FA Cup. Winning trophies is in that club’s DNA.

They failed to beat Leeds twice in the league, but it will be third time unlucky for Daniel Farke’s side, whose priority, as disheartening as it may be, is not a Wembley semi-final but Premier League survival.

Chelsea’s massive – and if we’re being fair, talented – squad makes them an ideal cup team and their reward for ending Leeds’ cup run will likely be a final against Manchester City (no offence intended to in-form Championship side and Arsenal’s conquerors Southampton).

That would be tough, clearly, but if U21 boss Callum McFarlane can frustrate Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium in the first game since Enzo Maresca’s exit in January, it shouldn’t be beyond Liam Rosenior to do the same, presuming he’s still in the job by then.

Like Leeds, Man City may also have bigger fish to fry by then as they chase the title. It won’t be as magical as Crystal Palace’s exploits last season, but the FA Cup could well be heading to chaos merchants Chelsea.

Louis Sealey, Deputy Sports Editor

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored for PSG against Liverpool on Wednesday (Picture: Getty Images)

Given the Champions League’s propensity to throw up dramatic second-leg comebacks, it feels slightly premature to be making any cast-iron predictions, even with just eight teams remaining.

The draw has been neatly divided in half, with teams who are on a crusade to save football on one side, and those who are steadfastly committed to the dark arts on the other, meaning whatever the makeup of the final, we’re going to get what will almost certainly be described as a clash of contrasting style.

Should they survive next week’s second leg at Anfield and overcome their likely semi-final opponents in Bayern Munich, then I’d be pretty confident in backing PSG to overcome whoever they take on in Budapest and claim ultra-rare back-to-back successes.

Luis Enrique’s men are coming to the boil at just the right and with their Ligue 1 rivals doing all they can to afford them the rest and recuperation their rivals can dream of, they look primed to go all the way again.

James Goldman, Sports Editor