Arsenal's response, race for Europe and relegation dogfight

Premier League preview: Arsenal's response, race for Europe and relegation dogfight

Gabriel's bullet header earned Arsenal a win at St. James's Park. Will the Gunners complete a double over Newcastle this weekend? (Photo credit: Opta)

The weekend is here again. That was quite fast; we saw three games in midweek: the fall and fall of Chelsea, the ascension of Manchester City, and the entertaining stalemate between Bournemouth and Leeds United.

Few things are certain in the Premier League this season. 

Only Manchester City and Arsenal can win the league; Burnley and Wolves are relegated, and the race for Champions League football is seemingly hotter than the title race.

Before we start with our questions for the weekend, it's important to establish a few points. 

In the race for Europe, with 15 points on the deck to be won, everyone from Manchester United in 3rd to Fulham in 12th can dream of Champions League football.

Nottingham Forest visits Sunderland on Friday night, looking for safety. 

A point will represent a great outing for Vitor Pereira's team, while Sunderland secretly seeks an unlikely European football ticket. Both of them can achieve big things as things stand.

Forest can beat Villa and go on to win the Europa League. 

This automatically qualifies Forest for the Champions League. Sunderland, on the other hand, moves into a European qualification spot if they beat Forest at the Stadium of Light. What a game we have on our hands.

With Wolves' relegation confirmed, will Tottenham finally win a game in 2026? 

It's amazing how some teams play well when relegation pressure no longer hovers around them. 

Will Wolves heap more misery on Spurs, or will Roberto Di Zerbi earn his stripes?

Liverpool is in a good place for Champions League qualification. 

The Reds will not have many excuses when Palace visits on Saturday. 

Will Alexander Isak earn a start, or will Arne Slot tinker with Cody Gakpo upfront?

Fulham at home to Villa is a big deal. 

Aston Villa is chasing on two fronts; Villa could win the Europa League and earn the Premier League an extra slot in the competition while still chasing a top-five finish in the log. 

Fulham thinks it's still possible to achieve Champions League football. 

Will they go for it in this game?

The biggest of all questions this weekend is for the Gunners. 

Arsenal lost their place at the top to City in midweek, but it's still within their grasp. A good win over Newcastle United leads Arsenal back to the top of the log. 

Can Arsenal do it without excuses?

Some of the injured players for Arsenal are expected to be back this weekend. 

Newcastle will be without Anthony Gordon, but that doesn't mean it will be an easy encounter for Mikel Arteta's Arsenal. Will Arsenal rise to the occasion?

Manchester City doesn't play in the league this weekend. 

The log leaders are on duty in the FA Cup, where they can push for the domestic treble. 

Can Arsenal, in their absence, rise to the top again?