Today the equation is simple.
Beat Crystal Palace and we go 8 points clear with 10 games to go.
We win the league taking it one game at a time, and not getting ahead of ourselves. We still have some tricky games ahead so it is important that we pick up all 3 points against the likes of Palace.
With Manchester City not playing due to the FA Cup, we can strike a psychological blow by winning today.
8 points is huge. And whilst City will have a game in hand and home advantage when they face us at the end of April, I would rather have the points on the board.
That 8 point gap will be painful for City, and any further slip up prior to their fixture against us will be felt.
Without looking too far forward, City potentially also have an FA Cup semi-final to play the weekend before facing us. That will mean that could go into that fixture with 2 games in hand.
Post that fixture, City could still have 11 games to play versus our 5. Fixture congestion will be something they need to negotiate, and you have to wonder if Pep might begin to prioritise the Champions League.
They host Leeds and Travel to Everton prior to potential Champions League finals. And play Chelsea after the 2nd leg. Those are 3 of the last 4 games of the season.
If City have not caught us back up, Pep might be tempted to put out 2nd strings for those games and focus on Europe.
But ultimately we need to focus on ourselves. We win 10 from the last 11 and we are champions no matter what.
I still think 87 points will be enough for us to win the league.
Man City have not won more than 3 league games in a row this season. If they win every game between now and the end of the season, that will be a 14 game winning run and see them get 94 points.
I would expect them to lose at least one more, and draw a couple. But again, we need to just focus on us.
Today we do it for Patrick Vieira. I fully expect the Arsenal faithful to sign his name at least once during the gam following his sacking by Palace.
Get the 3 points, build that gap going into the international break, and then use the next two weeks giving the likes of Gabriel Martinelli a break and getting Jesus back to full fitness.
Enjoy the game today.
UTA.
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 