CROSSING THE LINE

1	Manchester United	35	26	5	4	86	32	54	83	MAX	92
Club links Club profile Statistics Squad Fixtures & Results Next fixture v Man City (A) 30 Apr 2012 Form guide HAHAHH W
2	Manchester City	35	25	5	5	87	27	60	80	MAX	89
Club links Club profile Statistics Squad Fixtures & Results Next fixture v Man Utd (H) 30 Apr 2012 Form guide AHAHAA D
3	Arsenal	36	20	6	10	68	44	24	66	MAX	72
Club links Club profile Statistics Squad Fixtures & Results Next fixture v Norwich (H) 5 May 2012 Form guide AHAHHA L
4	Tottenham Hotspur	35	18	8	9	59	39	20	62	MAX	71
Club links Club profile Statistics Squad Fixtures & Results Next fixture v Bolton (A) 2 May 2012 Form guide AHAHAH D
5	Newcastle United	35	18	8	9	53	46	7	62	MAX	71
6	Chelsea	35	17	10	8	62	39	23	61	MAX	70

Two fixtures of chilling simplicity; two wins and third place in the Premier League, with European Champions League Qualification, is assured. It won't matter if Chelsea, Newcastle or Sp*rs win all their remaining fixtures. It will matter not one jot if Chelsea win the ECL, we will be planning for Champions League football. Again.
The fact that our destiny is in our own hands is a good thing, yet, make no mistake, we have to win both games. We have to disregard cross cancelling equations, form guides, crystal balls and tea leave reading. The Arsenal just need to go out and win on Saturday, gird our loins and go up to West Bromwich the following weekend and stamp our quality on them. Given that next season is a tipping point we need the ECL as a bargaining tool.

We also need to acknowledge the fact that we have lost (so far) 10 games; that's Over a quarter of our matches! A third place finish would, frankly, be a major achievement. I for one feel that, after our disastrous start, there have been enough members of this team who have responded to adversity and put us in our current position. Sagna at 0-2 in the North London Derby deciding 'f*ck this' and producing that towering header, Vermaelen grabbing a late one, Arteta knocking it past Joe Hart and many others who stood up and where counted.
That's why I believe that if we can just get over that third place line we can regroup over summer and try to get our great club back in the thick of things. That process starts on Saturday against Norwich. Let's make the last game at home a cauldron of support, let's show Delia what "let's be having you" is all about.