Clinton Morrison's Predictions: Arsenal's Double Dream, Relegation Chaos & Playoff Drama
What a week in football. Arsenal are in a Champions League final for the first time in 20 years, Man City dropped a title-race clanger at Everton, Crystal Palace are one leg away from a European final, and the Championship playoffs have arrived at their most dramatic moment.
Clinton Morrison joined us for his weekly verdicts on all of it, plus predictions for a packed bank holiday weekend featuring the playoff semi-finals, a Premier League title decider and one of the most compelling relegation battles in recent memory.
Here's what Clinton had to say, and don't forget to check out the best World Cup Free Bets & Betting Offers, courtesy of Free Bets.
IN FULL: Clinton Morrison's Predictions
ARSENAL REACH THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL
It's a brilliant achievement for Arsenal. A lot of people will say, oh, they had the favourable side of the draw. But that's how it was and you accept it. They've done ever so well, still played against good teams to get this far, and beating Atlético Madrid was a classic. Do they care what anyone says? No chance. Full credit to Arsenal. They're in the final and anything can happen. They won't be favourites, but they don't concede many goals and they're very good at what they're doing right now.
How big a job has Arteta done to get them here?
He's done a brilliant job. Even when they had that blip and everyone thought they were going to fall off, he galvanised the team and kept it together. The players are coming into form at exactly the right time, Saka in particular has been outstanding over the last few games. You don't win the Premier League by fluke. If they go on and win it, they thoroughly deserve it.
Could they win the double?
Maybe. I think PSG and Bayern are stronger, even though Arsenal have already beaten Bayern this season. But in a one-off final, you never know. Arsenal will keep it tight, defend well, and David Raya is a top goalkeeper. They've got a real chance. It's not a given that whoever comes through tonight will go and beat Arsenal. Not a chance. Their defensive record in this competition has been outstanding.
THE TITLE RACE : WEST HAM IS THE DEFINING GAME
Man City, I can't believe it. They just capitulated against Everton. Disappointing. But if Arsenal beat West Ham this weekend, I think the title race is over. I really do. They're in great form and last night's Champions League result will only add to their confidence going into the weekend.
West Ham are fighting for their lives so they won't make it easy, but if Arsenal take the lead, I think they go on and win it comfortably. And with Palace likely in a Conference League final three days after that final-day visit to Selhurst Park, Glasner won't be naming a strong side for that one. The road is there for Arsenal to take.
A month and a half ago everyone was talking about a quadruple. If they end the season with a Premier League title and a Champions League final appearance, even if they don't win in Europe, that is an enormous achievement. And I think they will win the league. They deserve it.
CHELSEA: SIX CONSECUTIVE DEFEATS AND NO CLEAR ANSWER
They need a top-quality manager who can steady the ship. The recruitment hasn't been as good as people thought, the squad needs freshening up, and some of those players need to look at themselves. The performance against Nottingham Forest was nowhere near good enough. Miles off it. With the amount of money spent at that football club, they should be doing a lot better. I honestly don't know where Chelsea go from here.
Would their next manager think twice about taking the job?
Maybe. But Chelsea are still one of the biggest clubs around. They just need the right appointment this time. And an experienced manager to walk in and lift a group that looks really down at the moment.
Which players would you sell?
You don't want to lose Cole Palmer or Enzo Fernández, those are your best players and your biggest assets. But there are squad players who aren't playing week in week out and haven't hit the ground running, shifting those on frees up money without selling your crown jewels. João Pedro has had a good season and his stock is high, so clubs will be circling. But long contracts make everyone difficult to move.
SPURS: NOT SAFE YET, BUT SIGNS OF LIFE
Two wins in a row. The players respect De Zerbi. He's been there and done it in the Premier League with Brighton and he's a proper manager. You can see he hasn't fully implemented his style yet, it'll come. But when you're in the mire and need to win football matches, you play high tempo, press hard, and that's exactly what they did against Aston Villa. I thought they were fantastic.
But it's not over. Just because they've beaten Wolves and Villa doesn't mean they're safe. They need to beat Leeds this weekend, then they need West Ham to not get anything from Arsenal, that would make it a four-point gap. The pressure then shifts to West Ham: you have to win your last two games. Tottenham still have Chelsea and Everton to come, both hard games. It will go right down to the wire.
PHIL FODEN: FIGHTING FOR HIS WORLD CUP PLACE
He's in a real fight to get on the plane to the World Cup this summer. Other players at City have stepped up and are playing better than him right now. But I understand why they're giving him a new contract, Phil Foden doesn't become a bad player overnight. He's got too much natural ability. When he's at the top of his game, he'll be in that City side every week. He just needs to rediscover what he's shown in previous seasons. He probably knows that more than anyone.
IPSWICH: BETTER EQUIPPED THIS TIME FOLLOWING PROMOTION?
They'll have to be. Kieran McKenna is a good manager and he knows what's needed. The model is Leeds and Sunderland, bring in players with Premier League experience, invest wisely. The gap between the Championship and the Premier League is growing, but those two clubs have proved that with a good manager and smart recruitment, you've got a real chance of staying up. Last time around, too many of their players were Championship quality but not Premier League quality. That was the biggest problem. They went toe-to-toe with a lot of teams but the experience wasn't there at the right moments.
PLAYER OF THE SEASON
David Raya, Gabriel, Declan Rice and Bruno Fernandes are all in the conversation for me. Bruno has been outstanding, one of the best number tens in the Premier League this season. But if Arsenal win the title, it'd probably be Declan Rice or Gabriel. Both have been absolutely outstanding all season. If City somehow win it, Bernardo Silva.
Clinton Morrison's Predictions: At a Glance
| Match | Clinton's Prediction |
|---|---|
| EUROPEAN SECOND LEGS (Thursday) | |
| Crystal Palace vs Shakhtar Donetsk (UECL) | Palace progress |
| Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest (EL) | Forest slight favourites |
| CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFF SEMI-FINALS | |
| Hull vs Millwall (first leg, Fri) | Draw — Millwall win 2-1 in second leg |
| Middlesbrough vs Southampton (first leg) | Draw — Southampton win 2-1 in second leg |
| PREMIER LEAGUE | |
| Liverpool vs Chelsea (Sat, early) | Liverpool 3-1 |
| Fulham vs Bournemouth (Sat) | Bournemouth 2-1 |
| Sunderland vs Man United (Sat) | Man United 3-1 |
| Brighton vs Wolves (Sat, 3pm) | Brighton 2-0 |
| Man City vs Brentford (Sat, evening) | Man City 3-1 |
| Burnley vs Aston Villa (Sun) | Villa 3-1 |
| Crystal Palace vs Everton (Sun) | 1-1 |
| Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle (Sun) | Forest 2-1 |
| West Ham vs Arsenal (Sun) | Arsenal 2-1 |
| Leeds vs Tottenham (Mon) | Tottenham 2-1 |
| Crystal Palace vs Man City (Mon, game in hand) | Man City 2-1 |
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