English Premier League: A normal Sunday turns into ‘Upset Sunday’
Newcastle gifted their manager a great birthday gift – when they continued on a near flawless run, which got pundits comparing them to the teams in the top four.
After their victory over the Gunners, Rafa has only lost three games in their last 15 Premier League outings. Rafael Benitez, pulling off saves like ex-Yankees’ closer, Mariano Rivera. He’s taken his Toon army on such a steady run – they now stand an outside chance of ending eighth in the Premier League.
Newcastle record - last 15 PL games
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) April 15, 2018
W7 D5 L3 Pts26
Only the top 4 have taken more points in that period
Those 3 defeats came against Man City (twice) & Liverpool #PL #NUFCvAFC pic.twitter.com/uchVjREsA8
What counts heavily in his favour is the game in hand and the travelling match come following Monday, in Monday Night Football. They will face Everton, who’s not really improved under ‘Sunless Sam’. They managed a draw against other strugglers, Swansea City over the weekend – capping off the perfect weekend for Newcastle.
One point separates Everton and Newcastle, with the latter’s golden ticket, the game in hand – looking more and more important, as the season draws closer to an end. A well-contested 9th place vs. 10th place on the cards for next week’s… Monday Night Football!
Now let’s talk major catastrophe
The other team who’s supposed to be one of the top-six clubs in the Premier League, who managed another defeat, and has failed again at collecting points away from home – is none other than Arsenal Football Club.
Arsene Wenger had his Gunners on a consecutive three-goal threat and an unmarked seven-game run. It was the best run we’ve seen from North London club this season, perhaps. Yet, it was stopped by a team showing similar class.
Arsenal are the only team in England's top four leagues without a single point on the road in 2018.#MOTD2 pic.twitter.com/04InecBrrX
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) April 15, 2018
What yesterday’s fixture boiled down to – is who was the team that wanted to continue their fine form beyond Matchday 34. In this case it wasn’t Wenger’s men. Does one worry when they go up against another side in the bottom half of the table, with more to play for?
Is this next London dispute going in the favour of the underdog and not the best team in the fixture? Arsenal have now put themselves a short distance in front of surprise package, Burnley. They were aiming to get afore rival’s Chelsea, now they worrying about dropping below the Clarets.
All this in a day’s work!