Now that it’s January, the 2015/16 Premier League title race is in full swing, with three main contenders competing for the title. Currently in Week 20 of the season we are officially over the halfway point – with just 18 weeks left of this season! So here’s my ignorant opinion on who will be crowned champions at the end of the season, and who else will finish in the top four.
The Champions
Though three teams are currently vying for first place, for me personally, there are two teams that are the most likely to win the Premiership this season, Arsenal or Manchester City. This might be doing a huge disservice to both Leicester City and Tottenham (both who have only lost two games this season), however, the Gunners and Man City are in my ignorant opinion the favourites (and the bookies agree).
The Case for Arsenal
Now, this paragraph is going to be biased as hell because I am an Arsenal fan, however, this season is the best chance we have had at the title since moving to the Emirates in 2006. Currently, Arsenal are top of the table on 39 points, only ahead of Leicester City due to goal difference. However, after an early season that was marred by injuries of key first team players, being top of the table on New Year ’s Day was an achievement in itself. Despite some terrible games this season (notably the recent 4-0 loss to Southampton) Arsenal on the whole have been consistent. The oft criticised by Gooners, Mesut Ozil, is in form this season – in 2015 he had 20 goal assists making him the record holder for most assists in a calendar year in the Premier League. In Arsenal’s last game (2-0 win against Bournemouth) Ozil created nine goal scoring chances, more than any other player in a single game this season. Frenchman, Olivier Giroud (also rarely in more outspoken fan’s good books) has also hit form recently having scored ten goals so far in the Premier League, making him the current 6th top goal scorer of the season. Keeper, Petr Cech also hit a milestone recently becoming the record holder for most clean sheets in the Premier League at 170, though admittedly most of those were while he sat behind a bus at Chelsea.
Arsenal have fought their way to the top of the table, it’s up to them to keep it now – we’ve shown we can be there despite injuries and some horrific performances. With a host of players due back from injury in the coming weeks and having finally signed a defensive midfielder (Mohamed Elneny from FC Basel) the season is promising. However, I will never underestimate Arsenal’s capacity to throw it all away in the second half of the season – if Ozil or Giroud get injured before Sanchez is back we could easily slip out of the top four.
The Case for Manchester City
Early on in the season it looked like City was going to run away with the title. After 5 games and 5 wins Joe Hart had not conceded a goal in the Premier League. However, West Ham broke that spell defeating City 2-1 on the 19th of September. City’s current run of form has been mixed, winning 5/6 home games but having not won away in the Premier League since beating Crystal Palace in Mid-September. City’s lack of form at the moment has cast doubt over Manager Manuel Pellegrini’s job. Despite this City have one of the strongest squads in the Premiership, even with their lack of form City are 3rd on 36 points and with Sergio Aguero’s return from injury they have a real shot at the title. It’s naïve to rule City out, even with a lack of form.
What about Leicester City?
Leicester City have had a phenomenal first half to the season, only losing two games so far and having two strikers in the top four of the Premier League this season – Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez. Currently in second place only due to goal difference Leicester were top of the table of Christmas Day. The achievement of Foxes cannot be ignored and frankly, if Arsenal doesn’t win this season I want it to be Leicester. However, in my ignorant opinion Leicester won’t go the whole way. Unfortunately much of Leicester’s success relies on Vardy and Mahrez staying in form – and uninjured. Being a relatively small team in the League their squad does not have the depth to suffer a devastating injury. Arsenal and Man City have shown they can remain in the top four despite injury and falling out of form – Leicester will have to prove this too as its unlikely Mahrez and Vardy can sustain this run forever. Moreover, now with something to lose Leicester may take bigger risks which could unravel them. It’s unfair to rule Leicester out of a top four finish this year, but winning the league is a huge ask. Hopefully Vardy will rest himself a bit before the Euros this summer as England may need to call upon him.
Tottenham Hotspur
Though loathed to say it, Tottenham have an outside chance of winning the league and will likely get Champion’s League football next season. Harry Kane is having another good season, currently in the top five of Premier League goal scorers so far this season (coming second to Aguero in 2014/15). Spur’s squad is young and Mauricio Pochettino seems to be getting the best out of them – they are playing attacking football and it’s paying off, having only lost two games so far this season. What’s more, unlike Leicester a fatal injury won’t be disastrous for Spurs, as they have some depth in their squad. Spurs fans will pray Kane doesn’t get injured, and as an Englishman I will have to agree (with the Euros less than 6 months away). Spurs could do with picking up another striker in the January transfer window and perhaps an attacking midfielder to mitigate the risk if Kane was to be injured. I know Martin will be hoping for Spurs to finish top this season, however as an Arsenal fan I just can’t see it happening.
Conclusion
In my ignorant opinion the current top four in the Premiership will all get Champion’s League football next season. The current champions, Chelsea, are far from reaching the top as it stands (hahah) and Manchester United need to get their act together soon if they want a top four finish. There may be some movement in the table within the coming weeks with Crystal Palace, West Ham and United all pushing for a positon. However, taking into account overall form this season so far, the current top four deserve to be where they are.
Images from Reuters, Getty Images and eurosport.co.uk
my ignorant opinion 