EPL Weekly Wrap | All the Headlines - International Break

Missed a bit over the break? I’ve got you covered. 

Arsenal have lost two cup ties in a row and their injury list is getting scary. Manchester City thumped Liverpool 4-0 in the FA Cup and look unstoppable. Tottenham appointed their third manager of the season. Read on for a look at all these storylines and more.

Here’s everything that happened ahead of Gameweek 32.

Arsenal are nine points clear at the top. They’re also out of both domestic cups in a fortnight, and their squad is being held together with tape.

First came the League Cup final loss to City on March 22. Nico O’Reilly scored twice at Wembley after Kepa Arrizabalaga spilled a cross on the hour. Arsenal had the better of the first half but couldn’t convert.

Then on Saturday, Championship side Southampton dumped them out of the FA Cup 2-1 at St Mary’s. Ross Stewart gave Saints the lead. Gyokeres equalised off the bench, but Shea Charles won it five minutes from time. Arsenal were without Saka and Rice, plus Eze and Trossard, and lost Gabriel to a knee injury in the second half. Arteta said when a player asks to come off, it’s “never good news.”

Their casualty list is long. Odegaard only just returned from a knee problem and looked off the pace at St Mary’s. Eze’s calf could sideline him for weeks. Saliba and Timber both have niggles, and now Gabriel’s knee on top of Merino being done for the season. Arsenal travel to Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday, then face Bournemouth on April 11 and City at the Etihad on April 19. That’s where the title race could turn.

The Sporting draw is about as kind as Arsenal could’ve hoped for. Liverpool face PSG in the other Champions League quarter-final - the only two English sides left. For anyone tracking football betting tips this season, Arsenal’s Champions League price has come in considerably.

City hammered Liverpool 4-0 in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday. Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick, Antoine Semenyo got the other. Trafford saved Salah’s penalty too. City have won the League Cup and are into the FA Cup semis. They’ve also got a game in hand in the league. Nine points should feel comfortable for Arsenal, but it doesn’t.

Liverpool are fifth and out of the FA Cup. Salah’s departure is confirmed at season’s end. Their Champions League tie against PSG is about all they’ve got beyond a top-four scrap. Elsewhere, Everton are eighth on 46 points and looking at European qualification. Newcastle, 12th, had been leaning on their Champions League campaign but Barcelona hammered them 8-3 on aggregate. 

If you’re on NZ betting sites, Newcastle’s top-six price has drifted a long way.

Tottenham sacked Igor Tudor by mutual consent on March 29 after 44 days and seven matches. Five defeats from those seven. One point from five league games. Two days later, the club brought in Roberto De Zerbi on a five-year contract - their third manager of the season.

De Zerbi has said he’ll be Tottenham’s coach next season “no matter what.” They’re 17th on 30 points, one above West Ham, seven games left. Below them, Wolves and Burnley look cooked. Leeds on 33 and Forest on 32 can’t breathe easy.

Forest do have a Europa League quarter-final against Porto coming up. But Tottenham are the story. Three managers this season and no direction. Seven games to avoid going down. I can’t think of a bigger club in a worse position in the competition’s history.

Gameweek 32 gets underway on Saturday April 11 NZT with West Ham hosting Wolves at 7:00am. Arsenal face Bournemouth at 11:30pm. The headline fixture is Chelsea vs Manchester City at 3:30am on Monday April 13 NZT. If you’re using betting apps to follow the run-in, the relegation battle is going to be unmissable from here.