The race for he third and fourth places in the Premier League has been more exciting to watch than the race for first and second places this season. Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal fans alike watch nervously each weekend in hopes that their team takes home three points. Today, Arsenal traveled to St Mary's Stadium to face Southampton and earned a crucial three points.
After being on the pitch for nearly three minutes, Olivier Giroud secured Arsenal's over Southampton. A perfect string of passes found their way to an open Giroud who buried the free header.
Olivier Giroud vs @SouthamptonFC (2017). pic.twitter.com/jVC5T56taZ
— ArsenalGoals (@ArsenalGoaIs) May 10, 2017
Alexis Sanchez proved to everyone why he is one of the best forwards in the world. Mesut Ozil threaded a perfect pass, but Sanchez had no space to work with. After four touches, two Southampton players were on the ground and Alexis had opened up a clear cut chance and made no mistake of the finish.
Although Chelsea has all but secured a second Premier League title in three seasons, the relegation battle is just heating up. Sunderland and Middlesbrough are going down to the Championship next season, and Hull City and Swansea City are trying to avoid the same fate.
Relegation certainly adds drama and raises the stakes for the final games of the season, but exactly how much do these teams stand to gain by staying up?
James Milner had a penalty saved on Sunday. It was his first failure to convert since 2009. Before he took it, Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster stepped up to the spot and whispered sweet nothings into Milner's ear. Did it affect Milner? After the match, Milner said he's been around long enough for that sort of thing not to bother him.
Oh come on Jimmy no one believes that.
What did Forster say that so unnerved the unflappable Milner? We have some speculations:
"James are you sure you didn't leave the kettle on this morning?"
Brad Guzan's favorite spice is nutmeg. Or maybe it's his least favorite spice, but Chelsea's favorite spice. I'm not sure which variation of the joke I'm supposed to make here. Diego Costa, Marcos Alonso and Nemaja Matic nutmegged the Middlesbrough keeper three times for three goals to move one step away from a second EPL title in three years.
Middlesbrough, meanwhile, started Monday one step away from being relegated to the Championship, and that step has been taken. Goodbye Middlesbrough.
N'Golo Kante is the best player in England. So say the Professional Footballers' Association, and now the Football Writers' Association.
Last season, Kante's Leicester City teammates Riyan Mahrez and Jamie Vardy split the awards. This season, with Chelsea, Kante has reminded everyone who the real engine of that Leicester City team was.
Kante's PFA win was announced in April, and his FWA win was announced on Monday.
Look at that!
Up in the sky!
What is it?
It's a bird!
No, it's a plane!
No, it's Francis Coquelin!
Coquelin flying pic.twitter.com/vPH7vC9jat
— TouchofÖzil (@Touchofozil) May 7, 2017