Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on their record at Tottenham: "We played really good there many times but weren't able to score or win games.

"We are trying to do something special so we have to do that this time.

"This is the time to do it otherwise Arsenal will be champions.

"The mindset is just what we need to do to win the game. The other situations can't be in your mind because everyone knows what we are playing for."

Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on trying to win four titles in a row: "We know how difficult it is to be in this position again but we have something unique in front of us.

"We have to read exactly the game we want to play and interprt it as best we can.

"The right tension and focus has to be there. If you play these games too relaxed it's a big problem.

"Tottenham are playing for the Champions League so they have a huge target but we have a huge target too."

Image source, Getty Images

If Arsenal fans are worried about Manchester City's recent form and the fact they need a favour from their local rivals, one thing they can cling to is the record Pep Guardiola's side at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

City lost their first five games at Spurs' ground following its opening in April 2019, all without scoring a goal.

A 1-0 loss in the 2018-19 Champions League quarter-final was followed by defeats in each of the next four league seasons.

However, they did manage to end the streak with a 1-0 win in north London in the fourth round of the FA Cup this season, courtesy of Nathan Ake's late goal.

Their goalless stretch in the Premier League is yet to be broken though...

Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on facing Tottenham: "This is a team that we've played twice this season. If we don't win we aren't going to win the Premier League, so this is what we have to do.

"It's always so demanding to play there [at Tottenham], especially this season. They are so aggressive. At Anfield they are losing 4-0 but they continue to stick to what they believe.

"There are difficulties but we know what we are playing for."

Chris: Dear Phil, at the Euros this summer the final round of Group games will kick off at the same time to avoid any "doubt" over results. Should this approach not have been used for United Arsenal and Spurs City given the cross-over rivalries combined with the title ramifications?

Hello, Chris. These games you talk about are simply the quirk of the fixture list. I honestly don’t think you can start switching games around on the basis of cross-over rivalries for games such as Manchester United against Arsenal and Manchester City at Spurs.

The best you can do is make sure all the games on the final day kick off at the same time and this is what the Premier League have done.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Manchester City are two wins away from an historic fourth consecutive English league title.

No-one has ever done that before, which just shows how dominant Pep Guardiola's team has been.

It would also take Guardiola - personally - onto six championships, which would take him level with Aston Villa's George Ramsey and Liverpool's Bob Paisley.

Only Sir Alex Ferguson (13) will have won more.

Guardiola is due to speak to the media this lunchtime.

Manchester City

Image source, Getty Images

It seems to happen every year. The season approaches its run-in, Manchester City are up there fighting for top spot but perhaps don't quite look the unstoppable force they once were...

Fast forward a couple of months and they've won every game to take control of the title race.

Well, it's happened again. Since a draw with Chelsea, Pep Guardiola's side have won 10 of their 12 Premier League games with the only dropped points coming in draws at Liverpool and against Arsenal.

They've won seven league games in a row and haven't lost in 90 minutes since 6 December.

Arsenal

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal have confirmed forward Vivianne Miedema will leave the club when her contract expires at the end of the season.

The club posted on X, formally Twitter, when announcing her exit: "Seven special years. The end of an incredible chapter."

Miedema has scored 125 goals in 172 games since joining the club in 2017, including 13 appearances this season.

Sporting Director Edu Gaspar said: “On behalf of everyone at the club, we thank Viv for her huge contribution towards the success of the team during her seven years with us.

"Viv’s goals and overall performances as an Arsenal player have been of the highest quality, and she has created so many wonderful memories for us over the years.

"We wish Viv and her family the best of health and happiness for the future.”

Read the full article here.

So, the 2023-24 Premier League season wraps up on Sunday and it's all to play for at the top.

Arsenal hold the advantage - for now - sitting one point clear of Manchester City but the defending champions have a game in hand... against Tottenham on Tuesday.

Here's how the next week is shaping up for the two title contenders.

Manchester City:

• Tottenham v Man City - 14 May
• Man City v West Ham - 19 May

Arsenal:

• Arsenal v Everton - 19 May

Two wins for Manchester City will see them take home the title for a fourth successive season.

Would you rather be in Arsenal's position, with the points on the board, or Manchester City's with a game in hand?

Hit the thumbs up for Arsenal or thumbs down for Man City.

Arsenal have been title contenders throughout the season but they have seriously kicked on since the turn of the year, putting Manchester City under pressure.

Let's take a look at some of the stats:

• Arsenal have won 15, drawn one and lost one in the league in 2024, scoring 52 goals and conceding just six.
• Mikel Arteta's side have kept 11 away clean sheets in the Premier League this season; only Chelsea in 2008-09 (12) have ever recorded more on the road in a campaign in the competition.
• They have won 27 Premier League games this season, their outright most ever in a campaign in the competition, and most in any league season since 1970-71 (29).
• The Gunners have scored 88 goals in the league - their highest tally in a single season since 1963-64 when they scored 90.

Manchester City

We'll be hearing from Pep Guardiola soon as he previews Manchester City's crucial game away at Tottenham tomorrow.

I can't imagine he'll be expecting any favours from Spurs despite how some of their fans might feel...

George: Hi Phil. Can we expect a fully motivated Tottenham side facing Man City - when they know many of their fans might prefer to lose than Arsenal win the league?

Morning George. Great question. I’ve already had Spurs fans I know saying they wouldn’t mind losing against Manchester City rather than help Arsenal win the league.

I honestly think all professional footballers are fully motivated for games like this, irrespective of the context. To suggest otherwise questions their professionalism.

There is a rather large complication here as well. If Liverpool beat Aston Villa tonight then Spurs are still right in the mix for a Champions League place, so they would need to give it everything anyway.

The first priority for Spurs has to be Spurs. Not Arsenal.

Bournemouth

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth announced the appointment of Andoni Iraola in June 2023, replacing Gary O'Neil at Vitality Stadium.

Despite failing to win any of his first nine games in charge, Iraola has overseen a largely positive season with Bournemouth already achieving a record points tally in the Premier League.

Iraola's new deal is a 12-month extension to his original deal and keeps him at the club until at least the end of 2025-26.

"I'm very happy to sign the contract. For me, it is a matter of renewing the confidence from both sides," Iraola told afcb.co.uk, external.

"We have had a good experience with our first season together in the Premier League, and I am happy that both sides want to continue the relationship further.

"I'm proud that we achieved the points record. We are playing in a difficult competition, with very good opposition. The season started slowly, but I think we improved a lot and are playing in the right way.

Bournemouth

Bournemouth have confirmed that manager Andoni Iraola has put pen to paper on a new contract.

Anon: Phil, Klopp resigned at the end of the January transfer window, do you think the owners lack ambition?

Is this a suggestion that Klopp decided to leave because of lack of transfer support? If so, I do not believe it for a minute.

I think we should respect Klopp’s reason, which was that he was running out of energy. Liverpool’s owners want the club to sustain itself but they do not lack ambition.

Alex Howell
BBC football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

England manager Gareth Southgate has played down links to the Manchester United job with their manager Erik ten Hag under pressure.

"There will always be speculation about managers, because if you lose a couple of games, you're in trouble - you win a couple of games and it is a different agenda," Southgate said.

"But for me, it [Euro 2024] is a brilliant opportunity. We're looking forward to the tournament.

"My focus is on how do we go a step further than we went in the last Euros [when they were beaten on penalties in the final by Italy]."

Image source, Getty Images

Ex-Arsenal forward Lucas Perez,35, scored the winning goal for hometown club Deportivo La Coruna against Barcelona B to send them back to Segunda Division, the second tier of Spanish football.

Perez opted to leave top flight club Cadiz to return to Deportivo, paying his own release clause, a rumoured 493k euros to play for the third division outfit.

He has helped Deportivo secure promotion with 12 goals and 17 assists in 30 appearances.

Paul, Manchester: Question for Phil: Regarding player workloads, top level players complain about their workloads, yet the game at lower levels faces even bigger issues which are dealt with by the players, as exhibited by the likes of Charnock Richard having to play five matches in seven days. What do you believe are the best solutions for football at lower levels, and perhaps in general to deal with big problems like this?

Hi Paul. That is astonishing and I genuinely did not know that about Charnock Richard.

I think it needs careful management of fixture lists and programmes but I do think at the very elite level the game is stuck with those overloaded schedules – in fact they almost seem intent on adding to them despite all the complaints from managers and coaches.

I am not quite sure how a club ends up playing five games in seven days but the answer has to be better administration and organisation at level. This may have been a unique set of circumstances but that is ridiculous and cannot be sustained.

Everton

Image source, Getty Images

Everton stalwart Seamus Coleman could be set to sign a new contract at Goodison Park.

The 35-year-old's current deal expires at the end of the season but he has confirmed he will "have a think" about putting pen to paper.

Coleman told Everton's website: "The club means everything to me. I suppose I live and breathe it like everyone else. It’s been a hell of a ride – the last two or three years – and it’s not a case that you just turn up for work, go home and forget about it.

“You live and breathe it, and it’s been tough. But I absolutely love this football club, I love this stadium. We’ve got another year here at Goodison, so I’m happy to have been offered something and I’ll have a think.

“This football club means everything to me and, as I said before when I signed my last contract, it is hard to walk away from something you love.”

Coleman holds the club record for Premier League appearances (363) and has been with the Merseyside outfit since January 2009.

• Arsenal have won three successive Premier League games against Manchester United for the first time since September 1998, while this season is just the fourth time they’ve done the double over them, after 1997-98, 2001-02 and 2006-07.
• Manchester United have lost 19 games in all competitions this season, their most since 1977-78 (also 19), while their nine defeats at Old Trafford this term is their joint-most at home in a season, along with 1920-21, 1930-31, 1933-34, 1962-63 and 1973-74.
• Arsenal’s win at Old Trafford was their 27th in the Premier League this season, only winning more league games in a campaign in the top-flight in 1970-71 (29) and 1930-31 (28).
• Manchester United have conceded in 10 successive games in all competitions for the first time since October 2021, while the 82 goals they’ve conceded this season is their most since 1970-71 (also 82).
• Only Cole Palmer (19) has been directly involved in more Premier League goals in 2024 than Arsenal’s Kai Havertz (14 – 8 goals, 6 assists), with eight of those involvements coming away from home (4 goals, 4 assists), bettered only by Kevin De Bruyne (11).