The English Premier League returns this weekend from the final international break of 2024. With the table taking shape and a congested holiday fixture schedule coming up, here are three things at stake during this weekend’s matches.
Arsenal looks to remain within striking distance
December marks head coach Mikel Arteta’s fifth year in charge of Arsenal with only one trophy to show for it. Earning only two points in the club’s last four league games, including a 1-1 draw versus London rival Chelsea before the break, it’s now or never for the Gunners to stay in title contention.
In the last two seasons, Arsenal led the title race until late spring when Manchester City caught them both times. The club finds itself nine points back of league-leader Liverpool after falling into a slump much earlier this season.
Saturday’s match versus Nottingham Forest is a must-win for Arsenal. Given its fortunes over the last few years, the Gunners would not be favored to overcome a double-digit point deficient to bring home their first league title since 2004.
New head coach Ruben Amorim must make an important first impression with Manchester United
The Erik ten Hag experience is officially over in Manchester. United fired the Dutchman in late October after coaching the club to its worst points total ever (11) after nine league matches.
By Nov. 1, the club had announced its new head coach Ruben Amorim from Sporting CP. His first match in charge is this Sunday away at Ipswich Town.
United is coming off a reassuring 3-0 win at home to newly promoted Leicester City. However, the club still finds itself in the bottom half of the table at 13th. With a win in his first game, Amorim could see his side jump as high as seventh.
Ipswich, also newly promoted, is one of the most favorable matchups for a new manager. With United fans desperate for results after, by their standards, a porous start to the league season, the Portuguese coach is primed to make a good first impression.
Wolverhampton Wanderers can ride momentum away from the relegation zone
The Midlands club has stayed in the Premier League since 2019, but this season is proving a true test of its place in the top division.
Wolves currently sit in the relegation zone with six points after earning their first win of the season against bottom-of-the-table Southampton before the international break. The 2-0 victory was the first clean sheet of the campaign for the club, which has the most goals against in the league.
Matheus Cunha continues to be a bright spot with five goals and two assists, including a goal-of-the-season contender to seal the win versus Southampton.
If Cunha continues to produce and the Wolves stop leaking goals, they can claw their way out of the relegation zone. A win at Fulham on Saturday will force clubs like Crystal Palace and Ipswich to catch momentum as well or get left behind.
