Rachael Warham
This time last year there was no problem when it came to purchasing tickets for the final game of the season. It's fair to say that interest in that particular fixture was minimal and choice over where to park our backsides for the 90 meaningless minutes of football was aplenty.
Fast forward 12 months and it would not be unreasonable to say that what was expected to be an amble to claim last day tickets had actually become a mad, desperate, frenetic, literally sweat inducing rush!
Although, at first puzzled by the flurry of activity to say farewell to the boys in order to wish them a jolly holiday, it quickly became apparent that the reason for the speedy sell-out was actually due to the fact that there remained a feeling that winning the Premier League title wasn’t completely out of the realms of possibility; that destination West London could very well become North London.
And now, I too find myself starting to believe the hype; that this season could still spring a few surprises.
Chelsea's form has stuttered from as far back as January when they were humiliated at home by Bradford City and sent crashing out of the FA Cup. This was further compounded by their Champions League exit to Paris Saint Germain. The Blues have also dropped points to Burnley, Southampton and Manchester City in recent weeks leading onlookers to think that all is not quite as rosy as would seem at Stamford Bridge.
Chelski's remaining fixtures will see Mourinho's men face Manchester United, our good selves and Liverpool. Not to mention a final day scuffle with relegation candidates Sunderland, add into the mix a battle with Leicester City and you find yourself licking your lips in anticipation.
Diversely, since Arsenal were shown the exit door from the Champions League by beating Monaco on their own soil in a performance that almost rectified the horror show that was witnessed at the Emirates, The Gunners have gone from strength to strength. A fact that has seen Premier League victories in every game since the Spurs no-show in February.
Testing times await Arsenal in the Premier League in the form of Manchester United and Chelsea but there is no reason considering current form why we can't overcome these; especially when you think at the ease at which United were dispatched of in the FA Cup. That leaves fixtures against league strugglers Hull City and Sunderland but with current form in mind can there be any excuses to think that three points are there for the taking.
As we all know, anything goes in football. The only thing that is certain is that nothing is certain at all. So as we see all the talk about when Chelsea will win the title I find myself more inclined to listen to the faint murmurings that we're chasing their coat tails, waiting for their slip up to pounce!
Ed’s note – This was submitted on Saturday evening. Still, it doesn’t mention any reliance on yesterday’s QPR v Chelsea game, so I’ll assume the author is still nursing a half-full glass
