About five clubs are fighting for the final top-four spot to clinch a place in the UEFA Champions League next season. Six points separate fourth-place West Ham United and eighth place Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Tottenham Hotspur sits in seventh place, with 36 points, four back of The Hammers. The musical chairs for that last spot will be a talking point for plenty of pundits, predicting which club will walk away with that fourth-place finish.
During a segment on BT Sport (via Manchester Evening News), former Manchester United striker Michael Owen provided his thoughts on the race and which club he sees ultimately coming in fourth place.
“Spurs have got games in hand,” Owen said. “Manchester United have got a few more points at the moment. West Ham have got points in the bag. Arsenal got great a win on Thursday night. You can make a case for any of them. I think Wolves needed to get something [vs. Arsenal] to shake that up. But I think it is between those four teams, and it literally could be any of them. I am going to go for Tottenham.”
“They kept their big players; Harry Kane is starting to look like the Kane of old, and they have kept Son [Heung-min] fit. Yes, it was a disappointing result on Wednesday [vs. Southampton], but he [Antonio Conte] looks like he is turning it around a little bit at Tottenham. It is going to be a great race for fourth; it is going to keep us entertained. Let’s hope the title race is open as well until the end of the season. Any of those four I couldn’t really argue with, but I am just going to go with Tottenham.”
This Sunday, Tottenham faces off against Wolves, so they have the opportunity to create a buffer there. Furthermore, Spurs can have a rebound performance after losing to Southampton.
The north London club does have matches in hand, but that can’t afford to drop points against clubs below them in the table.
We have better players compared to Spam and the Arse I think.. On paper United should be favourites for fourth. Us and Arsenal also fighting for it making up the top 6.. Spam are a level below, more like Wolves and Brighton. Declan Rice is why they’ve been punching above their weight… I back us for top 4 same as Owen because of the Conte effect, plus Kane is back on board. We have the best manager. He’s better than Ralf, Arteta and Moyes… COYS.
I don’t agree with him. Wednesday’s game illustrated that we aren’t top 4 material. Too many average players. Sadly I think Spammers will get 4th. Even more frustrating when you consider they have the cat abuser and Antonio in the team.