Arsenal guaranteed a Europa League place next term with a hard-fought 2-1 win over West Ham United but there’ll be no let-up as they’re targeting a Champions League berth. After three consecutive wins over sides that started the day in the top seven for the first time since March 2012, they need to keep pushing if they’re to beat rivals Tottenham Hotspur to that coveted top-four spot.A different challenge awaits against a Leeds United side battling for their Premier League lives, but after winning each of the last four head-to-head meetings in North London – three of them ‘to nil’ – Arsenal will be heavy favourites to make it five in a row. Another victory for the Gunners here could almost be decisive in the top-four battle, with Spurs drawing away to Liverpool the day before.While Leeds weren’t disgraced when losing 4-0 to Manchester City, arguably as big a blow as ceding ground to their relegation rivals was losing key players Liam Cooper and Stuart Dallas to injury. They’ve four games remaining to save themselves but a significantly worse goal difference than both Burnley and Everton makes their task harder.A seven-goal miracle – that’s lower tiers of English football for youDespite a reasonable league away record (W4, D5, L8), Leeds’ performances on the road against the current top six make for grim reading as they’ve lost all five encounters this season while conceding an average of 4.6 goals per game. To break that cycle, they must extend a three-match unbeaten Premier League away run (W2, D1) which includes five consecutive halves without conceding.As far as player availability goes, tight hamstring was given as the reason for Ben White’s absence in the win over West Ham, and his place in the squad this weekend is still in slight doubt despite his return to training, so Holding can feel confident about his chances of another start after a man-of-the-match showing at the London Stadium.Should the London Blues fear the Man United’s Glazers scenario?Takehiro Tomiyasu was taken off with cramp in his first Premier League start for four months but should be fine to go again here, while Kieran Tierney and Thomas Partey remain out for the long term.Despite failing to find the back of the net, Eddie Nketiah put in another impressive showing last time out and should hold his place over Alexandre Lacazette, while Martinelli could once again be given the nod over Emile Smith Rowe.Leeds’ manager Jesse Marsch has been rocked by the news that Stuart Dallas is facing a lengthy period on the sidelines due to the femoral fracture which he sustained at the end of the first half against Man City.Spurs hand the Premier League trophy to Man City on a silver platterDallas is being kept company in the treatment room by Adam Forshaw, Crysencio Summerville and Tyler Roberts, and Marsch is not expected to take a risk on Patrick Bamford just yet either. However, Liam Cooper is expected to be available for the Whites after shaking off a knee knock.Luke Ayling should shift across to right-back with Dallas now sidelined, which could see Diego Llorente drafted into a defensive-heavy setup or Daniel James recalled to the attack for the visitors.Bernardo Silva, the next piece of Xavi’s winning puzzleWhile Arsenal are battling for Champions League return, Manchester City are painfully close to retaining the Premier Lague title. A calamitous collapse in the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid in midweek saw the Cityzens crash out of Europe’s most prestigious competition, and now they must dust themselves down ahead of their return to domestic league action. There’s no time for Pep Guardiola’s side to be licking their wounds though, as Liverpool are matching the Cityzens stride-for-stride at the top of the table.The visit of Newcastle United does at least bode well for a return to winning ways for City, who have won 23 of the last 28 league head-to-head encounters (D4, L1). The reverse fixture saw Guardiola’s side run out 4-0 winners, and City may need a handful of goals to secure a double win here given they have conceded seven goals in their last five league home games, more than in the prior 13 combined.👊 @ManCity have scored in each of their last 26 #PL matches against Newcastle, the joint-longest run of one team scoring against another in the competition’s history#MCINEW pic.twitter.com/WPF7IcsHSV— Premier League (@premierleague) May 8, 2022 Newcastle’s revival under Eddie Howe has been stark, with the Magpie’ collecting more league points in 2022 (32) than all but Liverpool and Manchester City ahead of the round. That resurgence wasn’t enough to see Newcastle extend their winning run to five matches last time out against Liverpool, as Howe’s side fell to a 1-0 defeat against City’s nearest rivals.A return to winning ways seems unlikely here, with Howe losing all 11 of his league managerial head-to-head meetings against City by an aggregate score of 34-5. Newcastle have never won a league game at the Etihad Stadium (D2, L14) either.Man City duo Kyle Walker and John Stones are both doubtful with respective ankle and muscle injuries; the former was withdrawn midway through the second half against Real Madrid while the latter did not travel to the Spanish capital.Joao Cancelo started at left-back in midweek, but he could switch over to the right if Walker misses out, with either Nathan Ake or Oleksandr Zinchenko to operate on the left.A word from the boss ahead of this weekend’s @premierleague clash with Newcastle 🗣#ManCity pic.twitter.com/kvTZK7ZZtC— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 6, 2022 Kevin De Bruyne – who has scored nine of his 11 Premier League goals at the Etihad this term, is expected to start in midfield alongside Rodri and Bernardo Silva, though Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan will also be pushing to start.Out of the three City attackers who started in Madrid, Phil Foden is seemingly the most likely candidate to keep his place, while Raheem Sterling and Grealish will be hoping to displace Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus.As for Newcastle, they will be without Ryan Fraser, Isaac Hayden, Jamal Lewis and Fabian Schar due to injury, the latter of whom was forced off against Liverpool with an ankle problem.Jamaal Lascelles is set to replace Schar and partner Dan Burn in the heart of the defence, joining full-backs Emil Krafth and Matt Targett in the back four.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Kieran Trippier has been sidelined with a fractured foot since February, but the former Man City youngster has returned to training this week and could be involved in the matchday squad on Sunday.Callum Wilson has also returned to training this week, following a four-month injury layoff, and although the 30-year-old striker has stated that he is “fully charged” for the remaining fixtures of this season, it remains to be seen whether Howe will throw him straight into the first XI, with either Joelinton or Chris Wood more likely to lead the line at the Etihad.Jonjo Shelvey, Bruno Guimaraes and Joe Willock all started in centre-midfield against Liverpool last time out, and the trio could retain their places at the Etihad, while Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron are set to start again on the flanks.PREMIER LEAGUE – ROUND 36SaturdayBrentford – Southampton 3-0 (2-0)/Jansson 13, Wissa 14, Ajer 79/Burnley – Aston Villa 1-3 (0-2)/Cornet 90+1 – Ings 7, Buendia 31, Watkins 51/Chelsea – Wolverhampton 2-2 (0-0)/Lukaku 56 pen, 58 – Trincao 79, Coady 90+7/Crystal Palace – Watford 1-0 (1-0)/Zaha 31 pen/Brighton – Man.Utd. 4-0 (1-0)/Caicedo 15, Cucurella 49, Gross 57, Trossard 60/Liverpool – Tottenham 1-1 (0-0)/Diaz 74 – Son 56/Sunday16:00: (1.50) Arsenal (4.30) Leeds (6.50)16:00: (2.70) Leicester (3.25) Everton (2.85)16:00: (4.60) Norwich (3.60) West Ham (1.80)18:30: (1.17) Man.City (7.50) Newcastle (16.0)***odds are subject to change
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