With less than a handful of games remaining in the 23/24 Premier League season, there’s plenty to still be decided, however this last round of games gave us some clearer indication over the final placings. With final standings to be determined across the entirety of the table, there’s only 3 games remaining for teams to seal their fate.

Let us know over on Twitter (@NextGoalWinBlog) if you have seen anything in a game that you think we should be talking about, or have anything to share from what you’ve seen at a game that week. Any funny stories, tactical analysis or general comments will be featured.

Arsenal Are Contenders

The North London derby almost always delivers theatre, but this one felt like a season-defining chapter for Arsenal. Mikel Arteta’s side arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium knowing that anything less than a win would hand a huge advantage to Manchester City in the title race. They started like a team fully aware of the stakes, full of aggression, clarity and conviction. A Højbjerg own goal settled the nerves, Bukayo Saka’s composed finish doubled the advantage, and Kai Havertz’s header made it 3–0 before half-time, a dream scenario in the most hostile of environments.

But Arsenal being Arsenal, the afternoon didn’t unfold without drama. A David Raya mistake gifted Spurs a lifeline, and suddenly the match changed tone. Tottenham sensed vulnerability and pushed with the kind of frantic energy their fans demand in a derby. When Heung-Min Son buried a late penalty to make it 3–2, the nerves in the away end were unmistakable. What should have been a procession turned into something far more tense, with every loose ball sparking panic and every clearance met with a roar.

Credit, though, must go to Arsenal’s resilience. This is a team often accused of fragility in high-pressure situations, yet they dug in with maturity. William Saliba and Gabriel stood firm, Declan Rice refused to let the midfield slip away, and even as Spurs threw everything forward, Arsenal managed the situation with a level of composure that would have been unthinkable 18 months ago. By full-time, the relief among Arsenal players was palpable.

The significance of the win can’t be overstated. Not only did it keep Arsenal’s title bid alive, it demonstrated that they can survive adversity in the most emotionally charged match of their season. Whether or not they go on to lift the trophy, this was a performance that spoke to their evolution, a team learning how to win tough, ugly, season-on-the-line matches.

Straight Back Down

Sheffield United’s relegation felt inevitable for weeks, but the manner in which it was confirmed, a 5–1 thumping by Newcastle, encapsulated their season all too neatly. The Blades arrived at St James’ Park knowing they needed something extraordinary to keep their hopes alive, yet they found themselves outplayed, outpaced and outmanoeuvred from almost the first whistle. Newcastle attacked with verve and confidence, and Sheffield United simply couldn’t cope with the intensity.

The match became a microcosm of everything that had doomed the Blades. Defensively, they were too open; in midfield, they were overrun; going forward, their threat was sporadic at best. Alexander Isak toyed with the back line, scoring twice with calm, clinical precision. Set pieces caused chaos, wide deliveries weren’t dealt with, and every Newcastle attack felt like it could become a goal. It was a long afternoon that grew longer with every passing minute.

This was not the way Sheffield United would have wanted their relegation confirmed, but the gulf in class was undeniable. A combination of injuries, lack of squad depth and the sheer brutality of Premier League quality left them fighting an uphill battle from early autumn. Their spirit couldn’t be questioned, but spirit alone rarely keeps clubs afloat at this level. Performances like this, comprehensive, disheartening, predictable, became too familiar.

Relegation brings tough questions for a club that now must rebuild. Financial constraints will shape their summer, and supporters will want reassurances that lessons have been learned. Yet, in the Championship, they may find the space to restore belief and identity. For now, though, Week 35 delivered a dose of harsh reality: the Premier League had simply been a bridge too far.

Everton Secure

Everton’s 1–0 win over Brentford may not go down as a Premier League classic, but for the blue half of Merseyside, it was worth its weight in gold. Idrissa Gueye’s well-struck goal proved enough to secure three points and, crucially, confirm Everton’s survival. After a season overshadowed by points deductions, uncertainty and tension, finally there was clarity: Everton would remain a Premier League club for another year.

The performance reflected everything Sean Dyche has tried to instil since his arrival, discipline, structure and a refusal to panic. Brentford had spells of pressure, as they always do, but Everton defended with purpose. James Tarkowski was immense at the back, Jordan Pickford produced key saves, and the work rate through midfield set the tone. It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective, and Everton have long since learned that style points don’t count for much in a relegation battle.

What made this victory particularly significant was the emotional weight it lifted from the club. The off-field turbulence has been relentless, and supporters have ridden a roller-coaster of fear, frustration and defiance. That survival was secured with weeks to spare felt like an unexpected luxury. Dyche has regularly spoken about “control the controllables,” and this win embodied that mantra, steady, focused, job done.

Now Everton can finally look to the future with something resembling optimism. A more stable summer window awaits, and there’s an opportunity to build a squad that isn’t simply engineered for survival. Week 35 may not have delivered fireworks, but it delivered something far more valuable for Everton: peace of mind, at last.

Matchday 35 Player of the Week: Alexander Isak With a brace against the now relegated Sheffield United, Isak was on top form as his efforts made up a dominant win for the hosts as they look likely now for a European push in the closing stages of the season.

Matchday 35 Game of the Week: Tottenham Hotspur 2-3 Arsenal With a North London derby that could have sealed the title race for Arsenal, they held off a late Spurs comeback to claim a vital 3 points that keeps them in contention for the top spot, while Spurs have had a hit to their European hopes.

Let us know over on Twitter (@NextGoalWinBlog) what you made of the thirty-fifth round of fixtures, and what you’re looking forward to in the next game week.