Did Arteta get it right with Everton?
The priorities of Mikel Arteta could be seen in his team selection against Everton. With Liverpool effectively out of sight at the top of the Premier League, the trip to Goodison Park was used in preparation for the most important quarter-final first stage against Real Madrid, who lost 2-1 to Valencia on Valencia on Saturday.
There were five changes of the 2-1 victory over Fulham. Thomas Partey received a breathing break as an unused replacement, while Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard were only used from the bank to save their energy. In the meantime, Bukayo Saka continued to build a start and came to rest after a 30 -minute cameo on his comeback in midweek.
Arsenal, startled by news about the seasonal hamstring injury of Gabriel Magalhaes in that match, was able to at least appeal to Ben White, who only received 60 minutes on his second start since November after he recovered from a lump, and Jurrien Timber, who had shaked a knock against his knee.
There was a start for Jakub Kiwior next to William Saliba. The International Van Polen came up for Gabriel against Fulham and seems to start most likely when the left-sided central ridge of Arsenal against Real Madrid after an insured display in Goodison Park with some striking steps.
But the availability of White and Timber means that Kiwior is not the only option of Arteta. “We have alternatives there,” he said, adding that he will assess “the best option for the back line” in the coming days. Saturday's draw, no matter how frustrating, will help to inform his choice. Nick Wright
Ndiaye's return increases Everton
Everton's penalty against Arsenal was controversial, with Mikel Arteta who insisted that it was the incorrect decision to punish Myles Lewis-Skelly, but Iliman Ndiaye certainly took good.
The 25-year-old made his first start for Everton since February after a knee injury and his cool-kick-converted Spot-Kick ensured that it was a decisive return to action.
Ndiaye brings Flair to a functional forward line and David Moyes was pleased to see him again. “We missed him,” he said afterwards. His goal brought him to seven in the Premier League this season, making him their outright top scorer and underlines his interest. Nick Wright
Pallus palace good enough for Europe?
Crystal Palace, who for the first time since 1932-33, completes a competition down Brighton for the first time – and for the first time ever in the top flight – Oliver Glasner will not keep an end. But what the manager will tension the most is how strong his side ends a campaign that started so bitter.
Palace has now won three home games for the first time since May 2024, even though they went to nine players in a carnival atmosphere in Selhurst Park. They showed grit and stubbornness to protect their lead, while Dean Henderson got two excellent saves – one in every half.
This is the bones of a very good team. One that has a really solid back with the necessary sprinkling of Stardust. Adam Wharton attracts the strings in midfield, Ebereechi Eze tangles defenders with every dribble and Jean-Philippe Mateta scores for fun. Mateta and Eze helped each other to score 12 goals in the Premier League.
And with a FA Cup semi -final against Aston Villa to come later this month, this could still be a very special, very memorable season for the reviving Londoners. Who knows, maybe there is a run in Europe on the maps? Laura Hunter
International break Stalls Brighton Momentum
The international break came for Brighton at the wrong time. Before the side of Fabian Hurzeler was at a point of seven without defeat and had eliminated himself in the conversation for the European places after navigating through a difficult winter.
Since then, Brighton has crashed from the FA Cup and has contracted back-to-back competition nethereal to block their European ambitions.
That is the seasonal story for Fabian Hurzeler, a first season tinted by inconsistency, a glimpse of promise followed by Underwhelming Runs. Injuries to key staff did not help his business, but Hurzeler has endured a baptism of fire in the first season of the 32-year-old in the top-flight.william Bitibiri
Home Discomes for Ipswich
Newly promoted clubs must make their home bus a fort to survive. That was one of the big shortcomings of the return from Ipswich to the Premier League. They have made Portman Road a hospitable place for visiting teams. Taking only seven points of their 16 games for their own fans was the foundation of their terrible season.
Only one victory – against Chelsea – has the Portman Road faithfully left behind the shortage of cheers. It was a tough slog that watched the Kieran McKenna team this season. They do many things well, but game management and being able to grind results has proven to be a huge problem. Ipswich has succeeded in taking the lead in 15 games, including against Wolves, this season, but only won four of those games. The Championship Wens.Lewis Jones
Pereira has been perfect for wolves
The Wolves hierarchy has taken a huge amount of stick this season – and rightly for some of their decision -making. However, when the chips fell and they had to have a seasonal conversation, they received the appointment at the appointment of the Vitor Pereira.
Over the last 15 games in the Premier League, if only the analysis of points won, Wolves would be the ninth in the table that took 23 points in that period. The 10 points taken over their last four games have also been reached without Mathues Cunha. That is a sign of a very experienced manager to find solutions to problems. Wolves are in good hand. Lewis Jones
In-shape Evanilson key to cherry end season on a high
If Bournemouth needs to be given the chance to make a late indictment for Europe, then the goals of the Fit-Again Evanilson will be the key to that hope, as the Brazilian in the London Stadium has shown.
Without wounded strike partner Justin Kluiver in the capital, the responsibility was very much on Evanilson to be the attacking spearhead of the visitors and the striker responded with a well -having double to earn the side of Andoni Iraola a point that holds them near a slender chance of European football.
Those two goals mean that Evanilson has now scored four times in his last four Premier League performances, after he has scored only one in his previous 10, whereby his manager hopes that the attacker can remain sharp in the final weeks for the goal of getting the cherries back to winning ways and going on the table.
“Evanilson is in great shape, the time that he was with a foot injury means that he can finish the season strongly, good for us to have him at a good time,” Iraola said after the game. Rich Morgan
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