Opta reveal updated top five prediction - and it's bad news for Aston Villa despite crunch Bournemouth win

Arsenal are astir guaranteed a apical 5 decorativeness portion Aston Villa person conscionable a 34 per cent accidental of qualifying for adjacent season's Champions League, according to Opta's latests statistics.

The Gunners, who crashed retired of the contention to Paris Saint-Germain mid-week, beryllium successful 2nd with 67 points, albeit 15 down already crowned champions Liverpool, and person a 99.7 per cent accidental of qualifying, Opta's estimations say. 

They question to Arne Slot's broadside connected Sunday earlier facing Newcastle and Southampton and cognize conscionable 2 points, barring a freak extremity quality swing, volition unafraid a apical 5 finish.

There volition beryllium six English teams successful the Champions League and 9 successful European competitions adjacent season.

But Manchester City person made beingness much hard for themselves aft they slumped to a goalless stalemate astatine lowly Southampton.

Pep Guardiola says his men volition person to 'fight until the end' and look 3 cupful finals aft dropping 2 points.

'I didn't expect otherwise from a period ago, that it's a combat until the end,' helium said. 

With a FA Cup last against Crystal Palace looming, they could driblet retired of the Champions League spots earlier they play successful the league again.

But the bully quality for City, who person a comparably beardown extremity quality to their rivals, is that Opta has recorded them arsenic having a 91.3 per cent of qualifying for the competition. 

Meanwhile, Villa person been fixed a paltry 34.1 per cent, the lowest of the six teams warring for the last 4 spots.

Unai Emery's broadside are presently level with Newcastle and Chelsea connected 63 points but person played 1 much crippled and person a considerably worse extremity difference.

They big Tottenham earlier travelling to Manchester United - 2 sides who person their sights acceptable connected Europa League glory alternatively than home success.

And erstwhile midfielder Lee Hendrie believes their favourable fixture database could spot Villa pip their rivals. 

Speaking connected Sky Sports, Hendrie, who spent 13 years astatine Villa Park, said: 'I deliberation the different happening you request to instrumentality into information is this Spurs and Manchester United games for Villa – what are they playing for?

'There’s thing other that they tin play for. So bash they play, you know, a portion squad where, you know, he’s conscionable keeping – some managers keeping players acceptable for the final? 

'I deliberation that’s the different happening that you’ve got to look astatine from a Villa constituent of view. Obviously, I’ve got my Villa headdress connected again, but, you know, I’m reasoning that’s wherefore I consciousness that Villa are truly successful a cardinal position.'

Villa, who were knocked retired of the Champions League by finalists PSG, tin grounds a maximum of 69 points this season.

Asked by Jamie Redknapp if they could deed that tally, Hendrie replied: 'I deliberation they do. I think, personally, location signifier has been superb astatine Villa Park. That’ll beryllium – again, I said – 3 cupful finals and it starts again connected Friday against Spurs, and past I consciousness that they spell distant to Manchester United and instrumentality each 3 points.'

Redknapp added: 'And evidently with Tottenham and Manchester United with a immense Europa League cupful final, their precedence is close there. 

'And particularly with different teams taking points disconnected each other, it does consciousness similar they’re giving themselves a existent chance, and they’ve conscionable got to marque definite they instrumentality attraction of points astatine home.'

Chelsea boast a 67.9 per cent accidental of securing a Champions League place. They person a challenging tally successful against Newcastle, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest.

A instrumentality to Europe's elite contention would beryllium a measurement successful the close absorption successful Enzo Maresca's archetypal season, with the Blues presently competing successful the Conference League. 

They play Real Betis successful the final connected May 28 arsenic they look to go the archetypal nine to triumph each 3 European competitions.

It could person been truthful overmuch amended for Chelsea, who were conscionable 4 points down leaders Liverpool astatine Christmas. 

Newcastle big Chelsea connected Sunday earlier a travel to the Emirates. They play David Moyes's Everton connected the last day. They person a 69.3 per cent accidental of Champions League qualification according to Opta.

While Forest, who haven't played successful the contention since they were reigning champions successful 1980, are ranked astatine 37.7 per cent. 

They instrumentality connected Leicester successful an East Midlands derby earlier games against West Ham and Chelsea.