EPL fixtures: Arsenal host Newcastle in top-two battle as Chelsea face Man United

Newcastle will aim to leapfrog Arsenal to the second position in the Premier League table this weekend, while Chelsea host struggling Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal have been Liverpool’s closest challengers for most of the campaign and a few weeks ago appeared to have second spot locked down.

A win for Eddie Howe’s Newcastle at the Emirates on Sunday would take the Magpies a point above Arsenal, who have won just one of their past six league games.

Newcastle, by contrast, have been buoyant since winning the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool in mid-March, losing just once in eight league games since.

Sunday’s 2-0 win against top-five rivals Chelsea was a huge stride towards Champions League qualification for the second time in three seasons.

Newcastle’s last game, on May 25, is a home match against Everton, while Arsenal travel to bottom club Southampton.

Aston Villa and Chelsea have a chance to steal a march on their top-five rivals, with both in action on Friday, against Europa League finalists Tottenham and Manchester United.

Villa, who have maintained fine form in the league despite Champions League and FA Cup exits in recent weeks, could finish the day in fourth place with a win at home to Tottenham.

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But Chelsea, who also have 63 points, would move just behind third-placed Newcastle if they win, thanks to a better goal difference.

United and Spurs sit just outside the relegation zone after terrible league campaigns and their attention will be fixed on next week’s Europa League final in Bilbao, with their managers likely to keep some players wrapped in cotton wool.

Villa’s gritty 1-0 win at Bournemouth at the weekend secured a place in European competition but Emery’s appetite for the Champions League has been whetted by a run to the quarter-finals this season.

UEFA Conference League finalists Chelsea could end Enzo Maresca’s first season on a high with European silverware and a return to the Champions League after two seasons away.

Below are the Premier League fixtures:

Friday
Aston Villa v Tottenham
Chelsea v Manchester United

Sunday
Everton v Southampton
West Ham v Nottingham Forest
Brentford v Fulham
Leicester v Ipswich
Arsenal v Newcastle

Monday
Brighton v Liverpool

Tuesday
Crystal Palace v Wolves
Manchester City v Bournemouth

The Star