The competition to finish in the Premier League’s top four is hotting up and our expert is backing Andre Villas-Boas’ men to pip Arsene Wenger’s side to a spot
The battle for a Champions League qualification berth intensified at the weekend as Tottenham breathed fresh life into their challenge for a top-four finish with a stunning 3-1 victory over Manchester City at White Hart Lane on Sunday afternoon.
Andre Villas-Boas’ side, though, remain firmly as dark horses to qualify for Europe’s premier club competition with the Lilywhites available at 10/11 (1.91) with Paddy Power to finish inside the Premier League’s top four.
Chelsea are hot favourites with Paddy Power to secure qualification for the competition that they won last season and are chalked up as a 1/4 (1.25) shot to do so despite being held to a 2-2 draw at Anfield on Sunday.
Arsenal currently occupy third spot in the table, having edged their way to a nervy 1-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday and are rated as a 2/7 (1.29) chance to finish in the top four.
Everton’s hopes were severely dented by Saturday’s 1-0 defeat against Paulo Di Canio’s Sunderland on Saturday and the Toffees are now rated as a 66/1 (67.0) chance to secure a Champions League qualification place.
The race for the final two Champions League qualification spots now appears to be between the three London clubs and Chelsea can be trusted to secure their place alongside Manchester United and Manchester City in next year’s competition.
Despite Arsenal’s fine run of form, the Blues and Spurs trail the Gunners by just one and two points respectively and, crucially, both have a game in hand at this stage of the campaign.
Arsene Wenger’s men have won five of their last six Premier League matches but face a stern test of their credentials when they face newly-crowned champions Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Defeat against Sir Alex Ferguson’s side could potentially take Arsenal’s fate out of their own hands and, with a tricky final fixture still to come against Newcastle United at St James’ Park, the Gunners could well come up just short in the race to finish in the Premier League’s top four this term.
Should Arsenal slip up, Tottenham look poised to secure a top four finish for a second successive season – although the Lilywhites lost out on a Champions League berth last term when Chelsea pipped them to the final qualifying spot by beating Bayern Munich in the competition’s final.
There is no such hurdle in Spurs’ way this season, of course, and with key striker Jermain Defoe returning to fitness at the right time for the final push, the White Hart Lane outfit are the value play at 10/11 (1.91) to secure a top-four finish this season.
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