EPL: 3 talking points from the Premier League

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta shouts instructions to the players from the touchline during the Gunners' English Premier League football match against Fulham at the Emirates Stadium. Photo / AFP

The Premier League title is Arsenal’s to lose once more after Manchester City crumbled in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Everton, to leave the Gunners three games from glory.

Arsenal did their job by applying the pressure in a 3-0 win over Fulham on Sunday (NZT), while at the other end of the table, there was also cause for celebration in North London this weekend as Tottenham Hotspur climbed out of the relegation zone.

AFP Sports looks at three talking points from the Bank Holiday weekend’s action.

Advantage Arsenal

City ultimately did well to salvage a point from the Hill Dickinson Stadium after battling back from 3-1 down with seven minutes remaining.

But the manner of their defensive collapse in the second half does not inspire confidence they can even win their remaining four games, to force Arsenal to take another nine points.

Everton had barely mounted an attack in the first half, but were suddenly gifted chances galore by glaring City errors.

By contrast, Arsenal’s title challenge has been built on solid foundations and they finally found some form as an attacking force against Fulham.

The return of Bukayo Saka to the starting line-up after being out for six weeks saw Mikel Arteta’s men score three goals for the first time in 16 games.

Arsenal now just need to beat West Ham United, already-relegated Burnley and Crystal Palace to end a 22-year wait to be crowned champions.

Tottenham turn it round

Spurs waited 118 days for a Premier League win in 2026 prior to last weekend’s scrappy 1-0 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Manager Roberto De Zerbi insisted all his side needed was to break that duck for confidence to flow back and they looked a completely different team in an impressive 2-1 win at Aston Villa.

“In football, it is very easy to change. If you lose, you are stupid. If you win, you are a champion. You have to find a balance,” De Zerbi said.

“We have to remember in ourselves what we have done in the past.”

Unai Emery’s team selection helped as Villa made seven changes with one eye on Friday’s (NZT) Europa League semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

But Tottenham took full advantage of that stroke of luck to edge one point ahead of West Ham and out of the relegation zone with three games to spare.

The Hammers played their part as they crumbled to a 3-0 defeat at Brentford.

Has Carrick earned Man Utd job?

Michael Carrick has achieved the goal he was set when placed in charge at Old Trafford in January by returning the Red Devils to the Champions League.

Manchester United cruised to a top-five finish with three games to spare after edging Liverpool 3-2 in a chaotic clash that exposed the weaknesses in both sides.

On paper, Carrick’s results are mightily impressive. A return of 10 wins from 14 games also includes statement wins over Arsenal, City and Chelsea.

But the performances have often been less convincing, while United have had the massive advantage in the Premier League of having no European football to contend with.

Carrick has immense experience of life at United as a player, coach and now manager.

The former midfielder said he feels like a “natural” in the demanding role.

But his only other managerial experience came with second-tier Middlesbrough, where he was sacked in 2025.

Outgoing Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola and Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann have been linked as potential candidates, but Carrick has made himself the front-runner.