So, two weeks to go and it appears all the key Premier League issues have now been decided – bar the biggest one of all.
Burnley’s improved form, just one defeat in eight, had given them a glimmer of hope they could beat the drop. However, that hope finally extinguished as they were hammered 5-1 on their own turf by Newcastle.
That all but means they will join Sheffield United in going straight back to the Championship.
Last season’s top two in the second tier will almost certainly be joined by Luton Town, meaning all three promoted clubs will slip out of the top flight.
To their credit, the Hatters were odds-on to go straight back down (including with the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds) but, in their first time in the top flight for more than 30 years, have produced some moments to remember and a real spirit – despite a huge gulf in resources.
Before running both Manchester clubs close shortly before Christmas, Luton gained a superb result by holding Liverpool (they nearly won) and almost did the same to Arsenal.
In February, they gained arguably their most impressive result of the campaign, holding Newcastle on their own turf in an eight-goal thriller on Tyneside.
For the neutrals, Rob Edwards’ men have arguably adopted the role of everyone’s second favourite team.
Realistically now though, their survival hopes are hanging by a thread after Nottingham Forest’s victory at the Blades, coupled with Luton’s 1-1 draw with Everton on Friday night.
It does appear Forest should have enough – regardless of the success, or otherwise, of their appeal to overturn a four points deduction for supposedly breaching financial rules.
In the race for Europe, it does seem Aston Villa are now firmly in pole position for the fourth and final Champions League spot.
Such an achievement would be superb and underline just what a job manager Unai Emery has done since taking over 19 months ago.
The rest is very much history at a club which has been transformed since his arrival. His impact was as stark as it was swift.
Once he arrived, the Clarets and Blues improved dramatically, winning 10 of their last 15 games as the Spaniard guided them to a seventh-placed finish.
Now that looks like being followed up with a fourth place.
For Spurs, who in fairness were not expected to fare too well this season following the sale of talisman Harry Kane, they appear to be ending the campaign on a low.
Considering they had no European distractions and were knocked out early of both domestic cup competitions, it’s a real missed opportunity.
A Europa League spot may provide some comfort but there will be plenty of frustration which will increase tenfold should their arch-rivals Arsenal pip reigning champions Manchester City for the title.
While I can’t see that happening as the games run down, the Gunners deserve credit for offering more backbone than in their surprise title bid 12 months ago.
They enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 home win over Bournemouth on Saturday in which a Bukayo Saka penalty, awarded after Kai Havertz’s dying swan act, set them on their way before Leandro Trossard and Declan Rice added the afters.
If Arsenal are to miss out on the crown, how sweet it may be for Emery whose 2-0 Villa success at the Emirates three weeks ago looks like being crucial.
The Spaniard was not given a fair crack of the whip at Arsenal and is now very much proving his worth in the Midlands.
Another man proving his worth and set to win the golden boot for the second year in a row is Erling Haaland.
His four goal salvo against Wolves was the second successive season in which he has a hat-trick (or more) in this fixture and has once again proven to be the outstanding striking talent in the division.
A final word for woeful West Ham – thrashed 5-0 at Chelsea on Sunday – and seemingly just a fortnight away from parting company with David Moyes.
Moyes may not be fondly remembered by some of the East End of London and his record against the top clubs, throughout his top-flight managerial career, has been well below adequate.
Yet, the Scot deserves credit for his two spells with the Hammers in which they reached three successive European quarter-finals.
They will always have the moment they won the Europa Conference last May. Yes, it is very much a minor competition in the scheme of things, but after 43 years without a major trophy, it was a night those associated with the club which gave us Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters et al will savour for some time to come.
Two more weeks of Premier League highlights and counting…
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