Arsenal to lose again and 2 other things to expect in the Premier League
i

Arsenal's title aspiration is done and dusted.

FOOTBALL Arsenal to lose again and 2 other things to expect in the Premier League

Arsenal to lose again and 2 other things to expect in the Premier League

Izuchukwu Akawor • 09:08 - 20.05.2023

Former title contenders Arsenal return to the Premier League after their title aspiration went up in flames last weekend. But can they bounce back against a Nottingham Forest side in superb form led by Nigeria's Taiwo Awoniyi?

The Premier League enters another decisive matchday and stage, set to produce even more interesting drama at both ends of the table.

The race for European football and the relegation dogfight will expectedly light up a packed weekend of football in the world’s most popular league.

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.co.ke/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

So, what can Premier League fans expect from the games this weekend? Pulse Sports Nigeria has listed three things to look out for in the PL.

Confident Nottingham Forest vs Deflated Arsenal

Matchday 37 in the Premier League kicks off in London at noon on Saturday as Tottenham host Brentford in what is likely to be the first drama of the day as Spurs chase a top-four finish.

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.co.ke/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

The day ends in Nottingham where their North London rivals Arsenal will be battling their emotions against host Nottingham Forest fighting for their Premier League status.

Arsenal are deflated at the moment, they don’t understand what has become of their season or how to describe it.

Arsenal's title dreams are over.
The Gunners are deflated at the moment. Arsenal take on an in-form Nottingham Forest.

The Gunners are not the same anymore after watching their season come to ruins following a devastating defeat at home to Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend.

A 3-0 whitewash ended their highly-anticipated title dreams, leaving the Gunners and their fans deflated and at their most vulnerable right now.

Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal
Taiwo Awoniyi has scored four goals in his last two matches for Nottingham Forest. Nottingham Forest are flying with Taiwo Awoniyi leading the lines majestically.

Per the Premier League, the former title contenders now concede an average of 1.89 goals per game compared to 0.93 goals with William Saliba at the heart of the defense.

That is not a record you take to visit a side like Nottingham Forest firing on all cylinders at the moment inspired by their Nigerian star Taiwo Awoniyi and his partner in crime, Morgan Gibbs-White.

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.co.ke/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

The Reds have scored an average of two goals in four of their last five matches with Awoniyi, who has embraced the chaos, netting four goals after his back-to-back braces while Gibbs-White contributed five goals.

Forest have also won the last two games at the City Ground where they host an emotionally down Arsenal side hoping to move on from a failed title dream.

Slippery Brighton to bounce back against fallen Saints?

After slaying Arsenal to end their title aspirations, Brighton and Hove Albion saw their dream to play in Europe next season also suffer a remarkable battering in midweek.

Brighton and Hove Albion
Brighton have beaten Arsenal on each of their last three visits to the Emirates. Landlords.

The Seagulls were guests at St James’ Park and it was not a good trip worth remembering after the Magpies went berserk following a 4-1 thrashing.

It was a bring-them-back-down-to-earth moment that Roberto De Zerbi’s team didn’t see coming. But this weekend, they can bounce back against beaten and relegated Southampton.

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.co.ke/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

But i will advise caution as you can never shame the shameless and of course, he who is down fear no fall. The Saints are down and can’t fall any lower, which makes an interesting case for a potential banana peel.

In addition to that, it becomes even more worrisome for the Seagulls as they tend to look clueless against teams below them and at the other end of the table.

Newcastle United Players Celebrating their equalizer against Southampton
Newcastle United may have damaged Brighton's European chances.

They lost 5-1 to Everton and 3-1 to Nottingham Forest and according to the Premier League, they have failed to win eight of the last 10 matches where they have had at least 60% possession.

Arsenal fans will be watching this game with keen interest, you don’t want me to tell you why.

Champions-elect to be crowned against Sorry Blues?

This is a real call for SOS on behalf of Frank Lampard and Chelsea who are the guests at the Etihad for this Pulse Match of the Week.

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.co.ke/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

Just a few days ago, Wednesday to be precise, Manchester City completely blew Champions League giants Real Madrid away at the same venue.

Now, Lampard and his struggling Blues visit the same venue on a day the Cityzens have the chance to be crowned champions of England for the third time in a row.

Man City thrashed Real Madrid in the Champions League
Manchester City will look to seal the league title vs Chelsea.

The Blues have lost the last five meetings against City, and Chelsea are facing the possibility of their lowest finish in the league since 1996.

City’s last defeat in the league was in February to Tottenham, a side from London and while Chelsea are from the same city and have Lampard, who was the last manager to pick a point at the Etihad, this particular trip will end in premium tears for the Todd Boehly boys.

Related content

Tags:
Arsenal Chelsea Premier League Taiwo Awoniyi