Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal resume baffling race for Champions League qualification

Here are the talking points ahead of round 37’s culmination:

PICKING OUT YOUR PRIORITIES

Last weekend’s stalemate between United and Chelsea has taken the edge off a befuddling battle.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s stumbling troops travel to John Smith’s Stadium, a venue that they lost at during 2017/18, in the knowledge that they must win there and against Cardiff, plus hope Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal slip-up in both their final fixtures.

A long shot, but not one that can be completely discounted. In the Premier League, the Blues are winless in their last three outings and the Gunners are enduring a three-match losing streak.

Added complication is provided by the latter pair’s semi-final deciders in the Europa League on Thursday. Victory in that competition guarantees progression to Europe’s premier club tournament, potentially at the expense of the top flight’s fourth-place finishers depending on other results.

Will they rotate and risk more domestic disappointment, leaving the door ajar for United when it should be bolted shut? Even if they do, can a Red Devils outfit that have triumphed in just two of their last 10 fixtures be expected to take full advantage?

We’ll see on Sunday.

MESUT MUST STOP GOING MISSING

What is going on with Ozil?

Chelsea superstar Eden Hazard did far more when staggeringly placed on the substitutes’ bench from the start in the 1-1 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt than the Arsenal playmaker did from kick-off during the 3-1 triumph versus Valencia.

Ozil produced zero shots and zero key passes from 74 minutes on the turf at Emirates Stadium. Hazard notched one shot and one key pass from 30 minutes of action at Commerzbank-Arena.

This impotence from Ozil has become depressingly familiar. It was enlightening how Switzerland anchor man Granit Xhaka produced far more ammunition to strikers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette on Thursday evening, than him.

The World Cup 2014 winner has one goal and no assists from his last 11 run-outs. This is not the stage of the season to go missing, especially when a two-pronged assault is under way on earning a return to the UCL for the first time since 2016/17.

Ozil’s early season travails under new head coach Unai Emery were well documented. But the 30-year-old has managed to start three of his club’s last four matches – with only a goal against Crystal Palace to show for it, plus two losses.

What he’s done to deserve this renewed faith is one only the Spaniard can answer.

The ex-Real Madrid creator should be eager to press for another spot from kick-off at Mestalla Stadium later in the week.  But on his current feeble form, it’d even be a gamble to pick him to play lowly Brighton & Hove Albion.

How the once mighty have fallen.

TERRIERS’ NEW BEGINNING

Huddersfield’s status as a top-flight club is not the only thing at an end.

Sunday’s visit of United will be chairman Dean Hoyle’s final home fixture at the helm after a decade in charge. A 75-per-cent ownership stake was announced for lifelong fan Phil Hodgkinson on Friday.

The Terriers are guaranteed to go down in bottom place, ending a two-season stint at the top table. Not that there isn’t anything to play for.

Boss Jan Siewert was hired by the outgoing regime. The German has already spoken freely about a “huge” summer transfer window approaching.

He must show he deserves to oversee it.

A playing squad that is unlikely to be picked apart by Premier League vultures must also prove they can succeed in the Championship.

Another victory against floundering United would be the perfect way to catch the new supremo’s attention.