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Arsenal's 'nightmare scenario' could see them miss out on the Champions League
Arsenal remain two points shy of guaranteeing a top-four finish and Champions League qualification as they enter the final straight of the Premier League season
Arsenal's season will wrap up without any silverware, and following their Champions League semi-final loss to Paris Saint Germain, it's down to Mikel Arteta to rally his squad and snatch the remaining two points needed to secure a spot in next season's top European competition.
Despite the Gunners seemingly having a third consecutive second-place finish in the bag, a tumble as far as sixth is still on the cards if the next fortnight of results don't go their way.
Sitting on 67 points with a clash against reigning champs Liverpool on Sunday, followed by fellow top-five contenders Newcastle, there's a real possibility that things could get pretty tense in north London leading up to May 25.
If Arsenal can scrape together two points from their bouts with Liverpool, Newcastle and Southampton, they'll likely clinch a Champions League spot given their goal difference currently outstrips Newcastle and Chelsea by 12, Nottingham Forest by 21 and Aston Villa by 27.
However, if they only manage a point or less, it'll fling wide the door for their rivals, and with a match against bottom-dwellers Saints on the final day, the pressure could really mount, reports the Mirror.
Aston Villa need to pull off wins in their three games against Bournemouth, Tottenham and Manchester United to stand any chance of leapfrogging the Gunners.
And even a single point for Arsenal means Forest would also have to triumph in their last three matches to overtake them.
Nottingham Forest, currently sitting on 61 points, and Chelsea in fifth place with 63 points, are set to clash on the final day, meaning only one can hit the 70-point mark.
After the Paris heartache, Arsenal's next challenge is Liverpool, and Arteta confessed last week that it was a gut punch to see Arne Slot's squad clinch the "deserved" championship ahead of his team.
"It was in my tummy, yeah," he admitted. "I understand that it's a team that has been more consistent and has many of the ingredients needed to win, but it's very painful, yeah.
"My motivations are much more focused on other aspects than that one but it hurts to watch it, that's for sure. They've done it in a manner, in a way, that has left no chance for the others.
"You have to congratulate that as well and you have to accept that there are reasons why you haven't been able to achieve it and try to improve."
Daily Star Sunday
Arsenal remain two points shy of guaranteeing a top-four finish and Champions League qualification as they enter the final straight of the Premier League season
Arsenal's season will wrap up without any silverware, and following their Champions League semi-final loss to Paris Saint Germain, it's down to Mikel Arteta to rally his squad and snatch the remaining two points needed to secure a spot in next season's top European competition.
Despite the Gunners seemingly having a third consecutive second-place finish in the bag, a tumble as far as sixth is still on the cards if the next fortnight of results don't go their way.
Sitting on 67 points with a clash against reigning champs Liverpool on Sunday, followed by fellow top-five contenders Newcastle, there's a real possibility that things could get pretty tense in north London leading up to May 25.
If Arsenal can scrape together two points from their bouts with Liverpool, Newcastle and Southampton, they'll likely clinch a Champions League spot given their goal difference currently outstrips Newcastle and Chelsea by 12, Nottingham Forest by 21 and Aston Villa by 27.
However, if they only manage a point or less, it'll fling wide the door for their rivals, and with a match against bottom-dwellers Saints on the final day, the pressure could really mount, reports the Mirror.
Aston Villa need to pull off wins in their three games against Bournemouth, Tottenham and Manchester United to stand any chance of leapfrogging the Gunners.
And even a single point for Arsenal means Forest would also have to triumph in their last three matches to overtake them.
Nottingham Forest, currently sitting on 61 points, and Chelsea in fifth place with 63 points, are set to clash on the final day, meaning only one can hit the 70-point mark.
After the Paris heartache, Arsenal's next challenge is Liverpool, and Arteta confessed last week that it was a gut punch to see Arne Slot's squad clinch the "deserved" championship ahead of his team.
"It was in my tummy, yeah," he admitted. "I understand that it's a team that has been more consistent and has many of the ingredients needed to win, but it's very painful, yeah.
"My motivations are much more focused on other aspects than that one but it hurts to watch it, that's for sure. They've done it in a manner, in a way, that has left no chance for the others.
"You have to congratulate that as well and you have to accept that there are reasons why you haven't been able to achieve it and try to improve."
Daily Star Sunday