Seismic disaster(s) or stuff of legend for Premier League London clubs? Capital Football runs the rule ahead of the run-in

By Alessandro Schiavone

While Arsenal look increasingly likely to cement their serial bottlers status once more on current form following their 2-1 defeat at Man City yesterday, their hated rivals from down the road Tottenham Hotspur are flirting with a shock relegation, and two-time European kings Chelsea could miss out on the Champions League once again, with fifth-placed Liverpool now holding a SEVEN-point lead. And that with only five fixtures left to negotiate before the 2025/26 season is consigned to the archives.

Making matters worse, if Tottenham were to (miraculously) scrape out of the red zone, it would most likely be at the expense of east London side West Ham, with the Hammers currently a point above the Lilywhites and with a game in hand. And while it was always going to prove difficult to improve on last term, in terms of both trophies and points tally, Crystal Palace will have to win at least four of their remaining seven fixtures to set a new Premier League record of at least 54 points. Not impossible, but far from a straightforward run of games, with Austrian manager Oliver Glasner served up title contenders Arsenal and Man City in his final two games at Selhurst Park before signing off.

Fulham, on the other hand, have once again steered clear of relegation. In doing so, it’s the fourth time in a row that these ‘yo-yo’ one-timers have avoided the nightmare of all nightmares. Yet another mid-table finish doesn’t reflect growth, but stagnation. Just like fellow 'Big Smoke' rivals Crystal Palace, they are too good to go down but perhaps not sufficiently talented to make it to Europe via the Premier League.

Last but not least, Brentford are saving London’s face (and blushes) as they sit seventh, level on points with Chelsea and well in the mix to qualify for the Europa League. But it seems the Bees are doing everything they can not to qualify for Europe’s premier competition, having drawn their last five games.

Yet, despite the gloomy predictions, all is not lost yet for our capital clubs.

It’s true that Tottenham are yet to win a league game in 2026, but there has been significant improvement since Roberto De Zerbi took over. Only an own goal at Sunderland and an individual mistake by Kevin Danso on Saturday denied the 2019 Champions League finalists a win. And the bullish Italian is steadfast in his conviction to get Spurs out of trouble, claiming they can come out on top in each of their final five games. How that is supposed to happen is anyone’s guess, but a win at already-relegated Wolves could spark a renaissance and he snowball effect could follow.

The Gunners have not exactly covered themselves in glory of late, and their nine-point lead at the top could evaporate by Wednesday night if Man City see off Burnley. A combination of fatigue, a loss of menace from set pieces, injuries to key players, and fear could cost them another shot at the Premier League crown.

And while Man City have the whole week to prepare for their league outing at the weekend, Arsenal face an energy-sapping double header with Atletico Madrid on the agenda. Lose that, and the psychological repercussions could be gargantuan and spill over into domestic matters. Win it, and their focus may shift to the Champions League final against either Bayern or PSG. That would mark the 20th anniversary of their loss to Barcelona in 2006.

The Gunners look like skydivers without parachutes at the moment. And even many of their own fans would raise an eyebrow if they are to finish the season strongly, with wins over Newcastle, Fulham, West Ham, Burnley, and Crystal Palace. Most of these sides have nothing left to play for, yet Arsenal look jaded. The fatigue is both mental and physical, and they are desperate for their crocked players to hit the ground running when they trade the treatment table for the pitch in the coming days. With Timber and Saka on the right flank, the Gunners are a different proposition. It's not the way their fans want the season to unfold but a runners-up place in the league coupled with Champions League glory would make it their greatest-ever season. The pain of missing out on thr Prem title once again would be more than soothed.

Chelsea have gone from bad to worse in recent weeks under Liam Rosenior. Their four-game losing streak has deflated Blues fans and players alike. And while fifth place looks unlikely, the west Londoners may have to become avid Aston Villa supporters in Europe and their fiercest 'haters' in the Premier League.

In fact, their best (and only) bet to qualify for ‘Ol Big Ears’ is for the Villans to go all the way in the Europa League and slip from third to fifth in the Premier League. In other words, everyone associated with Chelsea may end up having no choice but to support two of their most hated rivals in Manchester United and Liverpool domestically, while (hypocritically) hoping that both finish above Emi Martinez, Ollie Watkins and company, all while The Villa go on to continental glory.

They are up against Nottingham Forest in the semis next before a potential final against Freiburg or Braga.

Despite an unenviable run of fixtures, Crystal Palace can still reach those four wins to establish a new Premier League record of 54 points. They are good enough to see off West Ham tonight and Liverpool at Anfield this weekend. The south Londoners have won their last three games against the Merseysiders and clearly have their number. They could also take something from their home game against Everton and their trip to Brentford. Twelve points from 21?Difficult yes, impossible no. Win the Conference League and any shortcoming would be forgotten anyway.

If Brentford manage to find a cure for their draw epidemic, they could realistically even hope to qualify for the biggest club competition in world football. Yet the same applies as for Chelsea: they rely on a Villa “apocalypse” in England and a seismic Europa League victory. But they have to find a way of turning those draws into three-pointers without risking to lose those hard-fought games.

Fulham, currently 12th on 45 points, can dream of European football provided they win at least three of their remaining five fixtures. Should they do even better, they can expand their horizons to Chelsea and Brentford, currently three points and five places above them. Fulham dans would bite your hand off for Europa League football to return on Stevenage road. The 2-1 extra-time defeat to Atletico Madrid in the 2010 final is still an open wound for the supporters with many of them dreaming of nights as the one against Juve 16 years ago.

West Ham, fresh off the back of a 4–0 trouncing of Wolves can extend their lead over third-from-bottom Spurs to four points with five games to go and get out of trouble before building on that before a predicted cull takes place in the summer.

Our London clubs are at a crossroads, and predicting the outcomes would be a tough call. Yet the last word has not been said. And while it could all end in disaster and descend into inferno… the last word has not been spoken yet. While the final five weeks of the season could have cataclysmic endings for some, it could still turn into stuff of legends for the ages for each of our beloved London sides. And make no mistake, Tottenham or West Ham staying up would be celebrated in the same fashion as Arsenal winning either the league or the Champions League OR both by their own fans. Palace finally winning their maiden European trophy and playing in the Europa League would be massive for Eagles players and supporters alike and the perfect way for departing Glasner to make a case for a statue outside Selhurst one day. Brentford or Fulham in Europe? A huge achievement... with both sides still contesting a Championship playoff final as recently as 2021! Not many have their money on these outcomes but stringer things have happened in football and in life!