Premier League Highlights: Concerns Over Salah’s Potential Exit, Spurs Snag a Win, and Arsenal Ascends to the Summit

The Gunners emerged victorious against Newcastle with a narrow 1-0 win, moving three points ahead of City, albeit having played one match more; Pep Guardiola’s team triumphed over Southampton at Wembley, advancing to the FA Cup final and maintaining their pursuit of a domestic treble.

For a fleeting moment on Saturday, it looked like Spurs might escape the relegation zone, but a last-minute winner from West Ham kept them locked in 18th place.

Liverpool achieved their third consecutive league win, bolstering their hopes for Champions League qualification, though it could be the last match for Mohamed Salah in a Liverpool shirt.

AFP Sport explores three key talking points from the weekend’s Premier League action:

Arsenal’s hectic schedule

Martin Odegaard lamented Arsenal’s “hectic schedule” following their hard-fought win at the Emirates, which came on the heels of a dismal run of form.

The captain played a pivotal role in the clever short-corner setup that Eberechi Eze converted with finesse.

However, Eze was later substituted along with Kai Havertz on a day when Arsenal finally welcomed back Bukayo Saka from an Achilles issue.

The injuries could have significant consequences, especially with the first leg of Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid approaching on Wednesday.

Odegaard has faced his own fitness challenges this season, and with the Gunners aiming for both the Premier League and Champions League double, losing crucial players is not an option.

“We’re going to fight every single day and we’re looking forward to it,” the Norwegian stated to Sky Sports.

“The schedule is hectic, but we’re accustomed to it. We just need to keep pushing. It’s the end of the season, so we have to leave everything we have on the pitch and fight for every win.”

Hope for Spurs

Roberto De Zerbi reiterated his belief that a single win could spark a turnaround ahead of Tottenham’s clash with basement club Wolves, and his squad delivered at Molineux.

The joy of securing their first Premier League victory since December was slightly dulled by West Ham’s stoppage-time winner against Everton, leaving Spurs two points adrift, while Wolves and Burnley are already relegated.

The London side, who claimed a 1-0 win, face a daunting run of fixtures against Aston Villa, Leeds, Chelsea, and Everton in the coming weeks.

“I hope this result can shift something in our mentality for the matches ahead,” the Italian coach asserted.

He urged his players to concentrate on their own performances rather than the results of other teams.

“They need to have a positive outlook and full confidence because they are capable. They shouldn’t focus on other results, like West Ham’s,” he said.

Is it goodbye for Salah?

Anfield erupted in applause for Mohamed Salah as he departed the pitch just under an hour into Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace, seemingly due to a hamstring strain.

The Egyptian waved to all corners of the ground, relishing the moment as the crowd responded with ovations.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot remarked that he was uncertain whether Salah, who has made over 400 appearances for the club and netted 257 goals, would return to action.

“We need to assess the severity of his injury and whether he’ll be able to return,” the Dutch manager noted.

“What I do know is that Mo has always taken exceptional care of his body, so I expect he will require minimal time to recover from this injury.”

The victory lifted Liverpool into fourth in the standings, level on 58 points with Aston Villa and Manchester United, and eight points clear of Brighton.

The top five positions are assured of a place in next season’s Champions League, and it appears unlikely that the current standings will change.