Arsenal are competing in the Premier League title race, and whilst they are still less likely to win than Manchester City, they cannot be counted out just yet.
Mikel Arteta’s side are top of the table right now, following their 5-0 victory over Chelsea, but have played two games more than Manchester City, who are four points behind.
If Arsenal are to win their first Premier League title since 2004, they will need to be perfect in their final four games of the season, whilst also hoping that Pep Guardiola’s ruthless team drop points in any of their final six games.
In the dream scenario that Arsenal go on to beat major rivals in Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, with City also dropping points, they will secure what would be a deserved title given their outstanding form in 2024, but two players within the squad will not receive winners’ medals unless they play in all four games, starting with Sunday’s North London Derby.
Jurrien Timber may miss out on Arsenal Premier League medal
Summer signing Jurrien Timber has been absent since the opening day of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, but made a return to the pitch for the under-23 side on Monday, and scored a delightful goal as he nears a first-team comeback.
However, Premier League rules dictate that players need to make five appearances in the competition to receive a winner’s medal at the end of the campaign.
This means that Timber, who has appeared just once in the Premier League, would need to appear in all four remaining games, including the difficult clash away at Spurs.
Given that he is unlikely to be ready to return to first-team action in such a tough game, it appears that he will be left without a medal should his teammates go on to secure glory this season.
Ethan Nwaneri does not qualify for Premier League medal
Youngster Ethan Nwaneri is one of the Hale End Academy’s brightest prospects, and the senior squad clearly rate him highly, with the midfielder impressing in his one league appearance this season against West Ham.
Like Timber, he would have to make four more appearances to qualify for any potential Premier League medal, and he is unlikely to be in the matchday squad for Sunday’s derby to have the possibility of an appearance to reach the five-game requirement.