United clear for title No. 19
April 6, 2011
By Dale Johnson
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Archive)
The Title
Chelsea may not be willing to accept they are out of the title race, but recent history suggests otherwise. Since Arsenal's Invincibles came out on top in 2003-04, the top two have both scored at least 80 points. Coincidentally, it was Chelsea that finished second in 2004 with 79 points.
Fernando Torres has failed to keep Carlo Ancelotti in the title race after his move
If Carlo Ancelotti's side win every single one of their remaining fixtures they can only finish on 79 points. While this season will undoubtedly see one of the lowest points totals to win the Premier League, 79 will not be enough for Chelsea to retain their crown.
That leaves a two-horse race between Arsenal and Manchester United, with the Gunners having thrown away their advantage to win a first league title since those Invincibles. Before Saturday's goalless draw with Blackburn Rovers, Arsenal would have been champions had they won all of their remaining fixtures but now Manchester United can afford to lose to Arsene Wenger's side and still win back the trophy from Chelsea.
Those who pointed to Arsenal's game in hand did so as though the three points are already in the bag. As that extra game in hand comes away at Tottenham Hotspur it was never a banker.
Not only do Arsenal now have a seven-point gap to make up on Sir Alex Ferguson's team, they also have to throw from around their necks the albatross of failure which has seen them beat only Leyton Orient since February 23, lose in the Carling Cup final to Birmingham City and be knocked out of the Champions League and the FA Cup. That has weighed heavy on their shoulders and if they are to have any chance of picking up a first trophy since 2005 they must overcome the mental mind-block.
Wenger has been finding every excuse possible since the stalemate against Rovers, even blaming the fact that they do not play another Saturday fixture this season. This, we presume, means his side will not be able to exert pressure on United by playing first on a weekend.
After what should be a winning trip to Blackpool this weekend, Arsenal still have to travel to Bolton, Stoke and Fulham - as well as Tottenham. Only Spurs and Man United have lost fewer home games that Bolton (two), while Fulham have lost only three games at Craven Cottage. Stoke have already won eight home fixtures, the sixth best in the division.
What that all adds up to is, other than playing their traditional big-four rivals, Arsenal would struggle to pick out a worse set of away fixtures.
Sir Alex Ferguson seems set to hold aloft the Premier League trophy once again
It doesn't get much easier at home. Liverpool, better at Anfield, travel to London on April 17 while Manchester United make the same journey on May 1. Their only other remaining game at Emirates Stadium is against Aston Villa on the penultimate weekend of the season, by which time the trophy may well already be residing back at Old Trafford.
That's not to say Arsenal cannot mount a challenge to United, or that they are about to implode completely, but a fixture list which just six weeks ago seemed favourable now looks far more daunting.
Four of United's seven remaining games are at home, and given that they remain unbeaten on their own turf it gives them an added advantage. Apart from the visit of Chelsea on May 8, they entertain Fulham, Everton and Blackpool. The Cottagers have long being woeful away, Everton have a terrible record against the Red Devils and United would take a last-day game against Ian Holloway's men.
United's away games are at an inconsistent Newcastle and a struggling Blackburn, with the trip to Arsenal in between on May 1. What looked like a very tight title race could very easily end with United taking the title with a few games to spare. United will finally complete Sir Alex's league mission and go clear of Liverpool with 19 titles in May.