Premier League PL) leaders Arsenal, one of our North London giants, have suffered some Agony in their last matches. First defeat by Manchester City 0-2 in the EFL Carabao Cup Final at Wembley on Sunday 22 March 2026. Then being dumped out of the FA Cup at the Quarter-final stage 1-2 v Southampton of the EFL Championship. Saints were deserved winners. With two trophies of a possible historic quadruple gone there was a little joy, if not actual Ecstasy, on Tuesday 7 April when it was Sporting 0 v 1 Arsenal in Lisbon Portugal in the UEFA Champions League Quarter-final first leg thanks to a 90+1 minute goal by Kai Havertz. Their other competition is the PL where they have a 9-point lead over Manchester City who have played one game less. The two meet on Sunday 19 April in Manchester on what could be a real “6-pointer”.
The other North London “giant”, well at least their stadium is, are not so much slumbering as writhing in Agony at the other end of the PL table in 17th with 30 points from 31 games. By the time Tottenham Hotspur’s third Head Coach of the season Roberto De Zerbi leads them out away v Sunderland on Sunday 12 April they could be in the relegation zone. This is because Premier London Derbies (PLDs) West Ham United (18th with 29 from 31) play on Friday 10 April at home v Wolverhampton Wanderers (bottom) and a win could take them above Spurs. It is looking like one of these PLDs Clubs will be going down with either Nottingham Forest or Leeds United.
Leeds United will be the FA Cup Semi-final opponents for Chelsea currently 6th in the PL with 48 points from 31 games. Will an FA Cup Final place and European football, but not necessarily UEFA Champions League, be enough for The Blues Hierarchy? Brentford, who have continued their consolidation in the PL despite losing good players and Head Coach Thomas Frank (how he must rueing going) are 7th (46 from 31) and pushing for a European place. Fulham are 9th (44 from 31) and in with a lesser chance of Europe. Crystal Palace have 39 points from 30 games and after mid-season uncertainty look assured of staying in the PL for next season. They could be the third PLDs Club with European football next season if they can build on their 3-0 win v Fiorentina of Italy in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League competition on Thursday 9 April 2026.
There are no PLDs matches this weekend, but enjoy your football, Andrew at PLDs.