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Clinton Morrison analyses the major talking points from the week in football, covering Arsenal’s march to the Champions League final, the Premier League title race, Phil Foden’s new contract, and Ipswich Town’s return to the top flight.

I’ll begin with Arsenal’s remarkable achievement of booking a place in the Champions League final. Some may claim they benefited from an easier side of the draw, but credit must go to them for finishing the job. They faced tough opponents and defeated Atlético Madrid in a match that may not have been a classic, yet the result is all that matters. They’ve made it to the final, and once there, anything can happen.

That victory followed a great domestic weekend for Arsenal—after beating Fulham, they saw Manchester City drop two crucial points against Everton. I was shocked by how City collapsed in that match, and if Arsenal manage to beat West Ham this weekend, I believe the title race will be effectively decided. A draw, however, could reopen things, because I can’t see City repeating the mistakes they made versus Everton. This weekend could be pivotal at both ends of the Premier League table.

Everything has turned around after many people assumed City would cruise to another title. I always thought their run-in looked tougher, and against Everton they made uncharacteristic errors that cost them dearly. Still, Jérémy Doku’s late equaliser might turn out to be a crucial goal if Arsenal drop points in the coming matches.

That said, I don’t expect Arsenal to slip up. They’re in excellent form, and the confidence gained from reaching the Champions League final should carry them into the weekend with momentum.

There was some positive news for City despite their struggles, with Phil Foden reportedly agreeing to a new four-year contract. By his own high standards, this season has been underwhelming, and he faces stiff competition for a World Cup spot given how many players in his position are performing well at the moment.

Foden’s talent is undeniable, though. He’s simply endured a campaign where things haven’t clicked. Other City players have stepped up recently, but it’s understandable that the club want to secure his long-term future.

He hasn’t suddenly become a poor player—form is temporary, and class is permanent. He’ll rediscover his best level soon. Foden will know himself that this season has not gone the way he hoped.

Antoine Semenyo has impressed and could be competing directly with Foden for a place, but when Foden is at his peak, he’s a guaranteed starter for Manchester City. His natural ability is too great to overlook; he just needs to keep working and recapture the form of previous seasons.

At the opposite end of the table, Roberto De Zerbi deserves huge credit for the transformation he’s brought to Tottenham in such a short time. He’s instilled belief in the squad, and the players clearly respect him.

De Zerbi’s philosophy isn’t fully visible yet—against Aston Villa, Yves Bissouma often went long from back to front, which isn’t typical of his style. But when a team is battling for survival, you sometimes have to prioritise results over style. Tottenham played with urgency and pressed aggressively against Villa, earning a superb 2-1 win.

That said, their job isn’t done yet. Wins over Wolves and Villa don’t guarantee safety. Their upcoming clash with Leeds is massive, and they’ll be hoping West Ham fail to pick up points against Arsenal to open up a four-point cushion.

Spurs still have Chelsea and Everton to face, both of which are difficult fixtures. The relegation fight could go right down to the final day, and I expect more twists and turns before it’s resolved.

The battle for the European spots is also heating up, with Brentford, Bournemouth, Brighton, Chelsea, Everton, and Fulham all chasing continental qualification. Crystal Palace could also secure a place by winning the Conference League. With the title, European spots, and relegation still undecided, the Premier League finale promises plenty of drama.

Lastly, a word for Ipswich Town, who have secured an immediate return to the Premier League. Kieran McKenna has the experience and knowledge to prepare his side properly this time around. The example of Sunderland and Leeds shows the value of adding players with top-flight experience—that’s the blueprint to follow.

The gap between the Championship and the Premier League continues to widen, but Leeds and Sunderland have shown that smart investment and strong management can bridge it. McKenna is an excellent coach and will need to build wisely in the summer.

Previously, Ipswich had too many players suited more to the Championship than the Premier League. They weren’t necessarily planning to go straight back down, but they lacked experience at the top level. That was their biggest shortcoming.

They were competitive and matched many teams stride for stride. Liam Delap scored plenty of goals for them, and they’ll need another striker of that calibre, along with a more resilient defence. Using free transfers, loan deals, and some clever signings from Europe could make all the difference in their quest to stay up next season.