Chelsea will not officially be crowned champions this weekend, but if they can avoid defeat against Arsenal they can put the champagne on ice and book the open-top bus, and even if they do lose there is no need for Jose Mourinho to start panicking.
The Blue machine's inexorable advance towards the title means there is not too much to get excited about at the very top of the table as the season reaches its conclusion, but there is still plenty at stake further down the Premier League ladder.
European hopefuls Spurs and Southampton face off on the south coast on Saturday and there is a huge relegation clash featuring Burnley and Leicester. For Everton fans it is 'Wayne Rooney day' as they welcome their former star back to Goodison Park.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Latest Videos FromThe Week
Here's the best of the weekend action:
Arsenal v Chelsea
Is there any chance that Arsenal can overhaul Chelsea at the top of the table? The Blues, who have only lost twice all season, have a ten-point lead over the Gunners with six games left, so anything other than an Arsenal win on Sunday and its the end of the title race. And even if the Gunners do prevail it is likely to be a phyrric victory as the Blues would still only need to win three of their final five matches to take the title.
But even if the championship is not a realistic proposition there are other reasons why Arsene Wenger will be anxious to get one over on Chelsea. After 12 matches against Jose Mourinho without a victory, Wenger must be desperate to shake that particular monkey off his back. It's clear that Mourinho gets under Wenger's skin and the pair were involved in an ugly touchline confrontation at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season.
On the pitch all eyes will be on Cesc Fabregas, the Arsenal prodigy, who will be turning out at the Emirates for the first time since joining Chelsea. Wenger has called for the fans to show him some respect and it will be fascinating to see what sort of a reception he gets.
Arsenal have not lost in the league since early February and Chelsea are undefeated since New Year's Day. However, it is Arsenal who need to win and if they chase the game it will play right into Mourinho's hands. If he's not careful Wenger will get another painful lesson in how to play pragmatic defensive football.
Southampton v Tottenham
It's seventh versus sixth in this European qualification battle at St Mary's on Saturday lunchtime. Whoever wins will be catapulted up the table into fifth (at least until Liverpool play later in the afternoon) while the loser will be left sweating on a top six finish.
However, all is not lost for the loser. If Arsenal were to win the FA Cup then the teams in fifth, sixth and seventh place in the table would all qualify for Europe. That said, Spurs will not want to be left cheering on the Gunners against Aston Villa.
The game also sees Mauricio Pochettino return to St Mary's for the first time since walking out in the summer. Most people expected his departure, along with that of most of his star players, to trigger a slump for the Saints. But Southampton have prospered under new manager Ronald Koeman and the home side will be desperate to get one over on their old boss. Spurs are in better form, but Southampton will not roll over.
Everton v Man United
There is little left for the Toffees to play for this season so the home fans can spend their Sunday afternoon letting former Everton stars Wayne Rooney and Marouane Fellaini what they think of them.
Man United have finally clicked in the latter stages of the season and they are now poised for a top-four finish. However, they cannot afford any careless mistakes, with several clubs snapping at their heels. But they will have to be on their mettle against an Everton side who have not lost in five. A draw could be on the cards.
Man City v Aston Villa
The Saturday evening fixture pits two teams on very different trajectories. Villa, who looked destined for the drop earlier in the season, have been rejuvenated under new manager Tim Sherwood and last weekend beat Liverpool to book themselves a spot in the FA Cup final.
Man City, on the other hand, have had a dire 2015. They were neck and neck with Chelsea at the start of the campaign but last year's champions now find themselves 12 points behind the Blues and another defeat would put their Champions League aspirations in danger. The future of Manuel Pellegrini and Yaya Toure are in doubt but the team must somehow focus on the final few games of the season.
The visit of Villa will test their mettle. A shock could be on the cards.
The weekend's other fixtures:
SATURDAY
Burnley v Leicester
Crystal Palace v Hull
Newcastle v Swansea
QPR v West Ham
Stoke v Sunderland
West Brom v Liverpool
