Arsenal made to rue previous defeats, Manchester United see another chance go begging, the advantages of a red card

Shortly after 2pm on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal’s Premier League title chances were over, or at least that is what it appeared. A 1-0 lead over north London rivals Tottenham had evaporated into a 2-1 deficit following a Toby Alderweireld equaliser and a beautiful curling effort from Harry Kane, with Francis Coquelin’s idiotic red card to blame for their rapid downfall.

After scoring two goals in two minutes, Spurs looked nailed on to win, yet Alexis Sanchez hit back with an equaliser of his own and Arsenal nearly stole all three points at the death when Aaron Ramsey broke free, only to be denied by a crucial block from Kevin Wimmer.

But Arsenal still trail leaders Leicester by eight points with nine games remaining this season. Had they not put in one of their worst performances of the season against Manchester United last week, or avoided unnecessary defeats against Swansea, Southampton and West Bromwich Albion earlier in the season, then the Gunners would have been in much better shape with a generous run-in to look forward to.

The title may already be beyond them.

Surprise leaders Leicester have dropped just 26 points all season as they continue to prove everyone wrong and edge closer towards a historic success, and with a five point lead over second-placed Tottenham, you have to consider them heavy favourites to clinch the title.

With the season well over two-thirds complete, Leicester’s season average suggests that they will drop another eight points before the season is over – enough to keep them above Arsenal and mean that Spurs will need to win eight of their last nine matches to snatch the title away from the Foxes.

Leicester keep finding a way to win, as Riyad Mahrez’s lovely finish against Watford on Saturday demonstrated, and if they keep grinding out results as they have done all season, then they may head to Stamford Bridge on the final day of the season with reason to celebrate.

By all accounts, Manchester United looked to have turned a corner. Four wins on the trot including an important victory over Arsenal had catapulted them back into the top four reckoning, and the form of the Gunners and rivals Manchester City had opened the door for Louis van Gaal’s side to move to position for Champions League qualification next term.

And then United did what United have done best since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, they lost a match that they should have won comfortably. With key players such as Michael Carrick and Chris Smalling back from injury, United should have left The Hawthorns with three points in the bag. But Juan Mata’s stupidity to pick up two bookings in two minutes, plus United’s inability to threaten Baggies goalkeeper Ben Foster, left Van Gaal needing more luck to get United back in the top-four hunt.

These chances will not keep coming for United – and Van Gaal.

No fewer than four clubs were able to score after having a player sent-off this weekend – Liverpool netting twice after James Milner’s dismissal – with United the only side failing to find the back of the net after being reduced to 10 men. It’s long been thought that having a man sent-off can produce a more determined and spirited display in defence as teams become harder to break down, but could it actually galvanise a side’s attack?

After Spurs took the lead against an Arsenal side missing Francis Coquelin, Arsenal went into attack mode, brought on Olivier Giroud, and scored an equaliser that just about keeps them in the title picture. Everton managed to stretch their lead over West Ham before an incredible fightback saw the Hammers prevail, while Southampton were able to snatch a late draw with Sunderland through Virgil van Dijk’s injury-time effort. This isn’t to say that teams should look to have a man sent-off – far from it – but it should show players that a game is not lost when a team-mate heads for an early bath.

It’s been 79 days since Crystal Palace last won a game in the Premier League, having taken just four points from their last 13 matches. Having initially looked like challengers for the Europa League qualification places, Palace sit just nine points above the relegation zone and are closer to the drop than they are Europe.

Pardew’s rage yesterday – both on the touchline as Christian Benteke scored a penalty and in his post-match interview where he criticised the Belgian striker for “diving” to win the spot-kick – displayed a growing frustration for the first time since he left Newcastle for Selhurst Park. The fans there love Pardew, but is he beginning to struggle with the pressure that he knows only too well? Under Pardew’s leadership, both West Ham and Newcastle performed above realistic expectations, yet when the heat increased he couldn’t handle the pressure.

Rarely has a team been a three-point gimme, but Aston Villa are every bit the “banker” that fans are predicting when they see the Midland’s club crop up opposite their side on the fixture list. Villa simply folded against a Manchester City side not in great form, having held out to reach half-time with the game still goalless. Instead of drawing inspiration from the display, Villa shipped four goals in 21 minutes, and the game was done.

The prospect of Villa staying up has gone, and with Tottenham and Arsenal yet to play the Premier League basement dwellers, they can at least guarantee another three points to their respective title challenges. For Villa, they need a plan of how to find a new owner, manager and players, because the club is beginning to show signs of the type of decline that has hit the likes of Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Wigan Athletic in recent years.

There was a time, not so long ago, when Everton were widely perceived as the best side outside of the top four. Tottenham soon took up that mantle, but Mauricio Pochettino’s side have quickly gone about pushing beyond that barrier, and the door was left ajar for the Toffees to reassume the position and possibly follow the north London side into the big time.

Instead, Everton are not even in the top half and they sit 11 points behind fifth-placed West Ham – their conquerors on Saturday afternoon in a 3-2 thriller. West Ham are riding the crest of a wave that will lead all the way to their new home in Stratford, but for Everton, alarm bells must surely be ringing. The Merseyside club can’t defend a lead at all this season, having shipped 10 goals in the 80th minute or later, and it has cost them any chance at European qualification that could come back to haunt manager Roberto Martinez in the not too distant future.