Three talking points from the Premier League weekend
Arsenal used Manchester City’s free weekend away from the Premier League to move eight points clear at the top of the table thanks to a 4-1 win over managerless Crystal Palace.
The mood on the other side of north London is very different after Antonio Conte berated his Tottenham players for throwing away a 3-1 lead to secure two key points in their bid for a top-four finish losing a 3-3 draw at Southampton.
Only Leeds, who beat fellow contenders Wolves 4-2, won from the relegation-threatened sides, meaning the bottom nine are separated by just four points.
The race for places in Europe is also intensifying as Aston Villa and Chelsea are now just four points off the top six.
AFP Sport takes a look at three talking points from the Premier League weekend.
– Arsenal react like champions –
Tired and frustrated after mid-week’s agonizing Europa League elimination by Sporting Lisbon, Arsenal responded with a stylish presentation that bore all the hallmarks of a future champion.
Mikel Arteta’s side were denied a penalty shoot-out against the Portuguese giants after Gabriel Martinelli missed the decisive penalty.
So it was symbolic of Arsenal’s newfound resilience that Martinelli was the man who put the Gunners’ opening goal on a relaxed afternoon in the Emirates.
The Brazilian’s cool finish laid the groundwork for his sixth straight league win before Bukayo Saka scored twice on either side of Granit Xhaka for Arsenal’s third.
Champions City have a game in hand and host Arsenal in April, but Arsenal are in control of the title race.
– Conte criticism hits Spurs deeply –
Antonio Conte arrived at Tottenham as a series winner who is able to instill a winning culture at a club used to underperforming.
Instead, the Italian seems to join a string of Spurs managers who come and go without lifting a trophy.
Conte’s contract expires at the end of the season and the question about his future is whether he will even see the remaining 10 Premier League games.
The former Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan coach called his players “selfish”, heartless and too used to not playing under pressure or stress.
Spurs are still fourth but just two points clear of Newcastle, who have two games in hand.
The question for the Tottenham board is whether their relationship with the dressing room is now beyond repair.
– Villa European fee –
When Steven Gerrard was sacked in October, only goals scored kept Villa out of the relegation zone.
Five months later, they are a club transformed under Unai Emery.
Bournemouth were easily swept aside 3-0 at Villa Park on Saturday, giving Emery’s men their third win in four games.
In fact, only four teams combined have picked up more points in the Premier League since the former Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain boss was appointed.
Manchester United and City’s entry into this weekend’s FA Cup semi-finals has increased the likelihood that seventh-place could be good enough for European football, which remains within Villa’s reach.
“We can add a new step, a goal, if we now look at the teams in the top 10,” said Emery, at least to guarantee survival. “They have an advantage over us, we have to fight behind them.
“But we’re going to play Fulham here, we’re going to play Brighton here, we’re going to play at Brentford, at Chelsea. Of course it will be very difficult, but we will try to add a new goal in our minds.”
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