Rival watch...

An increasing number of bedwetters thinks we will finish outside the top 5 this season, so interesting to see how the chasers are doing...

Chelsea lost for the 3rd time in 4 games yesterday, and have won 2 in 10. They sit 10 points behind us.

Bournemouth lost 1-0 to relegation troubled Wolves. They also sit 10 points behind us.

Aston Villa were the big winners on Saturday, beating Chelsea puts them 11 points behind us but they only have 11 games left.

Could Brighton and Hove Albion usurp us? A big win over Southampton, added to the 3-0 humiliation of Chelsea means they have overturned the 7 goal hammering their goal difference took against Forest.

Currently the closest teams to us are Nottingham Forest and Manchester City. They both play today - with Forest facing another top 5 hopeful, Newcastle United. City face top of the table Liverpool.


Beyond today, there are some big games coming up. We play Forest midweek, but on the same night City go to their bogey team Spurs (who are on a 3 match winning run). Bournemouth and Brighton meet in a South Coast derby on Tuesday, while Newcastle are at Anfield.

After the cup break it is current 3rd vs current 4th - as Forest welcome City in a game one or both will drop points.


We have a big cushion, and to expect these teams (or enough to knock us out of top 5) to have such a good run to the end of the season while we barely register a point is just pure fantasy. Any Arsenal fan who is genuinely worried about top 5 is a maniac. At worst we will finish 3rd.