The halfway point of the English Premier League season has passed, and the table is starting to sort itself out. The relegation candidates have fallen behind, and are now battling for their immediate top flight future. The middle band of teams are the metaphorical chasing pack, trying to rise to victory and claim a European place.
Five teams sit above them all, however: Arsenal, Manchester City, Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. All of which have demonstrated a quality at one point or another (no matter how fleeting) that they could potentially win it all if things go right for them. But whose form and quality is strong enough to mount a serious title challenge? Let’s take a look.
The Premier League Title Race: Contenders & Pretenders
Arsenal (First place, 42 points, +16 goal difference)
Arsenal are finally the real deal this season. A 4-0 loss to Southampton aside in the Christmas run, the Gunners are demonstrating the potential and resilience of a title-winning side. Petr Cech has been an inspired signing in goal, already one of last summer’s best buys.
He is protected superbly well by Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal and rising star Héctor Bellerín. There is depth and quality behind them, and Koscielny is at last making outsiders realise he is one of the best central defenders in Europe.
Injuries have riddled the squad, however, and a defensive midfielder would be a superb purchase in this winter window. Mohamed Elneny is expected to complete a £7.4m to the club any day now, and will shape up as one of Arsène Wenger’s bargain signings.
But, it’s up front where the real excitement is. Mesut Özil is the in-form player of the Premier League this season and, if Alexis Sánchez can stay fit once he returns from a hamstring injury, the Gunners might have what it takes to finally reclaim their Premier League crown.
Status: Contenders
Leicester City (Second place, 40 points, +12 goal difference)
The Foxes are the story of the season so far. A year after being rock bottom of the Premier League they were top of the table, with an impressive thrashing of Chelsea cementing their status as one of the best teams in England.
Jamie Vardy’s story was just as brilliant, rising from the depths of English football to the leader in the Golden Boot race, with Riyad Mahrez’s astonishing performances and production gaining him admirers across the continent. It’s only a matter of time until he plays on a bigger stage for one of Europe’s best sides. N’Golo Kanté is arguably the signing of the season, shoring up the midfield alongside the impressive Danny Drinkwater.
However, the Englishman’s recent groin surgery has halted the Midlands club’s progress, and they have now failed to score in the last three Premier League fixtures. New arrivals in January are likely to provide Vardy and Mahrez support, and the title might be beyond them over 38 games. Champions League football is very much in play though, if they can make the right additions.
Status: Pretenders
Manchester City (Third place, 39 points, +18 goal difference)
Manchester City’s squad is so talented they should be at the top of the table. Pundits declared the title race over in August after a blistering start to the season, but those people have been brought down to Earth now alongside City, who’ve struggled for consistency. Their away form has been horrible, and they’ve won only one of their last seven away fixtures.
Sergio Agüero has struggled for fitness, as has Vincent Kompany. Unfortunately, the club is far too reliant on two main defensive and attacking stars, and that isn’t good enough considering the talent at their disposal. Yaya Touré and David Silva are still capable of brilliance, but they don’t carry the importance that their Captain and best striker do.
Kevin De Bruyne has been worth every penny paid for him in the summer, as has Raheem Sterling. If City can maintain fitness and turnaround their away form (which might tie together if they cannot get their key men on the field), it’ll be tough to stop them winning the title for the third time this decade.
Status: Contenders
Tottenham Hotspur (Fourth place, 36 points, +18 goal difference)
Tottenham are good. Yes, it is weird to say after years of fifth-placed failures and mediocrity, but Mauricio Pochettino is building something special at White Hart Lane. They have the highest scoring striker in the Premier League in 2015 in Harry Kane (who had 10 more goals than anyone else in the calendar year) and are strong from front to back.
The former Southampton manager has made some astute signings, and placed his faith in youth. It’s paying off in a big way, and Spurs racked up 14 games undefeated in the league after the opening day defeat at Old Trafford, following an unfortunate Kyle Walker own goal. They might well fade out, but it appears they mean business this season.
They have two exciting full-backs in Walker and Danny Rose, whilst Toby Alderweireld has settled well alongside Belgian teammate, Jan Vertonghen. Hugo Lloris’ quality goes without saying, whilst an endeavouring and hard-working midfield of Eric Dier, Mousa Dembélé (one of the underrated performers so far) and Dele Alli combine brilliantly with the creative talents of Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela.
Tottenham are scarily good, and they might be the real deal. They are this season’s dark horse.
Status: Contenders
Manchester United (Fifth place, 33 points, +8 goal difference)
Crisis doesn’t quite encapsulate what Manchester United are going through at the moment. One goal (by either side) in the last ten fixtures at Old Trafford, and only 24 goals in 20 fixtures so far for Louis Van Gaal’s men. Frankly, it is a surprise to many that the Dutchman has retained his post, although that could be more down to timing and a lack of suitable replacements.
They cannot score, and when they attempt to, they seemingly lose the ability to defend. United were on top of the table earlier in the campaign, but a record winless run has dropped them out of the title picture. The reasons they made the list were solely because they’d occupied the top of the table this season at one point, which now seems like a dream.
Champions League football is the likely end to their season (something they’ve already been knocked out of in the Group Stage) and it would not surprise some if they didn’t even make the top four. If they do make it, it’ll likely be down to other teams’ mistakes rather than their own brilliance, which seems to have abandoned them for the vast majority of this campaign. Old Trafford is a shambles, from the very top of the club to the bottom.
Status: Pretenders
The Premier League race is going to go down to the wire. There are three likely contenders (possibly more) and they will probably battle it out till the very last day. Who wins it now will come down to the right winter signings, injuries and ultimately a little bit of luck which every Champion needs. But which club will that be?
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