Match-week 35 featured some of the season-defining games for title challengers like Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and relegation battlers like Swansea City and Middlesbrough. And the way it has panned out makes the possibility all the more cemented that the race at both ends is likely to go to the wire.
Power-shift in North-London
It was a long time coming. Arsenal had rested on their past laurels for over a decade now with the manager playing the role of an infection on the club, grown well past its prime stage and now festering with every passing season. It was just a matter of time before the puss came to the fore and Sunday was that day.
Once the best club in London, Arsenal have been reluctant in giving away the mantle to Chelsea when the cash-rich side came asking for it a decade ago. And although it took a few more years for their local rivals Tottenham to overcome them, Arsenal made sure they maintained their kind-heartedness for their neighbours. The defeat at White Hart Lane will surely go down in history- either as an indication of the downfall of the great club, or the low-point following which they rose back up. For now, Spurs grow larger than Arsenal’s shadow.
Are Chelsea Champions already?
Though Tottenham Hotspur have maintained their pressure on Chelsea at the top of the table, the season looks already for Chelsea’s after their brilliant win at Goodison Park. The Blues were caught out of the breath surely with Everton calling cards for the most part of the game, but Chelsea did what champions do in the face of adversity. They scored a cracker to shatter Everton’s confidence.
Antonio Conte should be really credited for the winning mentality he instilled within players after a grim season last year. Chelsea’s phenomenal away form has been down to some exceptional individuals like Pedro, Willian, Costa and Hazard, who have been on target on many such occasions this season. This week was no different and with the likes of Middlesbrough, Sunderland, and West Bromwich Albion in their remaining fixtures, London is Blue again.
The fights down under get interesting- The relegation battle couldn’t get any tighter. With Swansea City and Middlesbrough both churning out draws against Manchester United and Manchester City respectively, they will live for another week to find out their fate.
Bu what’s interesting is the slim gap in points that binds together the last few teams. Sunderland has already sealed their fate and are out of the equation. But last few weeks will be terrifying for teams from 14th placed Burnley to 18th placed Swansea City. They are separated by just seven points with three more games to go. This also includes a slim chance for Boro to survive against all odds.
