The next 11 days will have a lot to say about the immediate future of the Arsenal Football Club.
Will Mikel Arteta rest key players during the club’s Premier League run-in so they are fit and rested for the August 1st FA Cup Final?
Can AFC beat Aston Villa and/or Watford in the club’s final two Premier League games of the season?
Can the club finish 6th or 7th in the PL to earn a spot in the Europa League preliminary rounds?
Can the Gunners defeat Chelsea at Wembley to win a 13th FA Cup, and qualify for the Europa League group stage?
Will a successful finish to the season be enough to convince Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to extend his contract beyond next season?
There is so much at stake for the Gunners. A spot in the Europa League’s group stage will ensure a payout of over $3-million (USD), and would extend the club’s participation in European competition to 23 straight seasons. Both the cash, and the prestige, are extremely important to the club at this stage of their history.
Now, in order to calculate the Gunners’ chances of finishing 6th or 7th in the Premier League, you need to need to understand Einstein’s theory of relativity, E=mc2.
The bottom line, Arsenal needs to win their two remaining league games, score a lot of goals in those games, and hope Tottenham, Sheffield United, Burnley and Wolves all crash and burn. However, to qualify through the FA Cup, the Gunners just need to beat Chelsea.
So, as we head to Villa Park today, it will be interesting to see who Arteta lists in his starting XI. By rest Aubameyang, the Gabonese striker has no chance of catching Jamie Vardy in the race for the Golden Boot.
How would this decision play into Auba’s desire to stay at Arsenal? So, what’s better for the club, a happy Aubameyang, or a well-rested Aubameyang? It’s a slippery slope for the boss to maneuver, both today and again on Sunday.
What a season of twists and turns we have had. Oh my!
All I can say my fellow Gooners is this. Hang on, and keep the faith!
Cheers, and stay healthy and safe!
Gunner1953
Mikel Arteta said on Friday Bukayo Saka, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber are all in contention to be in the squad for Saturday’s match.
According to Graeme Bailey of TEAMtalk, Arsenal has intensified their interest in Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams as a top summer priority. 
Fabrizio Romano is reporting Calum McFarlane will be the Chelsea interim manager until the end of this season.
Arsenal Women have confirmed Manu Zinsberger will leave the club at the end of this season. The Austrian goalkeeper has totaled 51 cleans sheets in 143 appearances for the Gunners.
Stat of the Day: David Rays has made 53 saves and had 15 cleans sheets in 33 appearances this season for Arsenal.
American movie star Anne Hathaway on the Gunners title chances, “They better. I believe in Arsenal.”
Gabriel Magalhaes, “We need to be strong on Sunday, We are at this club to play these kind of games.”
Ten Premier League managers have been sacked this season, including three at Nottingham Forest, and two each at Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
