While discussions surrounding who will win the English Premier League are prominent among football fans and pundits each year, another debate which garners considerable attention is who will finish highest in the table out of the London clubs.
In recent decades, that has traditionally been a three-horse race between powerhouses Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea – and that appears to be the case again this season despite a gallant early season start from the likes of sixth-placed Fulham and ninth-placed Brentford. With that in mind, read on as we dissect all three of the “big six” who are vying for Premier League and London supremacy in 2022/23.
Arsenal
Currently top of the table, the Gunners have begun their season in exceptional form, securing 18 points from a possible 21 through seven games. Entering this campaign under a cloud of uncertainty given their poor finish to last season, Arsenal’s attacking brand of play and cohesion has been a joy to watch. New acquisition Gabriel Jesus has proven to be a welcome addition to the team, scoring four goals and assisting on three occasions to help his side win six of their opening seven fixtures.
As a result of their success, Arsenal are the football betting favourites to finish as the top London club, earning short odds of 11/10 at the time of writing.
While they sit atop the leader board at the conclusion of September’s matches, their schedule hasn’t been particularly tough when compared to some of their big-name competitors. It will be their first month after the international break which will provide a clearer indication of just how good this Mikel Arteta-managed side is. With three of their next four fixtures consisting of match-ups against Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Manchester City – October could be a crucial month in the context of this Premier League season.
Tottenham Hotspur
Sitting just a point shy in the Premier League table of north London rival Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur are unbeaten through seven games this season. Antonio Conte’s men kicked off their campaign with a convincing 4-1 win over Southampton, before drawing with Chelsea away from home in the last minute thanks to a stoppage time header to star striker Harry Kane.
Spurs managed to build on that form, with subsequent wins over Wolverhampton Wanderers, Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Leicester City – to coincide with a draw at West Ham United. Their win against Leicester was particularly encouraging, as last season’s Golden Boot winner Son Heung-min managed to find his way on to the scorer’s sheet for the first time in 2022/23, doing so in emphatic fashion with a hat-trick of goals.
They too have a tough run in October, with match-ups against the likes of in-form teams Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United.
Chelsea
After a turbulent 2021/22 that saw the famed club’s owner Roman Abramovic forced to sell Chelsea due to his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, many felt the Blues could be in trouble financially for the foreseeable future. However, with new owners at the helm and some key signings over the offseason, a top four finish and Champions League spot was on the agenda for Thomas Tuchel’s men.
However, after a less than stellar beginning to the season which has seen them only win three of their opening six games, concerns started to grow at Stamford Bridge. As a result of their sub-par performances in 2022/23, Tuchel was sacked from his position as manager. Not long after the news of Tuchel’s removal, Brighton’s Graham Potter was announced as his replacement.
Fortunately for Potter, his first month as manager will consist of winnable fixtures against Crystal Palace, Wolves and Aston Villa. If they can do what is expected of them and win the majority of their games throughout the month of October, they will immediately put themselves back in contention for a top four spot.
