Premier League 2022-23: What to watch out for in the second half of the season

The 2022/23 Premier League season resumes on boxing day after an exhilarating World Cup break as the 20 teams gear up for a whirlwind second half of the campaign. There are over 23 Premier League games left for most teams over the next five months, and the battle for the title, top four, and survival will be heating up over the next few months.

There are plenty of intriguing storylines to keep an eye out for in the Premier League, and here are three things to watch out for in the second half of the season.

Arsenal’s title challenge

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal were the standout side in the first 14 games of the season, as the Gunners picked up 12 wins and 37 points to go into the World Cup break atop the Premier League table. The North London side created a five-point lead over Manchester City at the summit of the league, blowing teams away with their stubborn defence and exciting young stars in attack like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard.

However, the Gunners suffered a body blow ahead of the resumption of the league with the injury to Gabriel Jesus at the World Cup, and it will be fascinating to see whether Mikel Arteta’s side can keep up that blistering pace without their Brazilian number nine.

Newcastle’s Champions League push

Newcastle United were the other major surprise from the first half of the 2022/23 season, as Eddie Howe’s side headed into the break in third place on the table, two points behind Manchester City. The Magpies have lost just one game all season and registered impressive victories over Chelsea and Tottenham to cement their credentials as legitimate candidates for a top four spot. Newcastle have the joint-best defensive record in the league alongside Arsenal – conceding just 11 goals – and will be boosted by the return of forwards Alexander Isak and Allan Saint-Maximin as they look to secure a Champions League position.

Who will miss out on the top 4?

With Newcastle impressing and Manchester City and Arsenal on track to bag a top-four place, three of the remaining big six clubs could potentially miss out on a Champions League berth this season. Tottenham currently occupy the fourth spot in the table and enjoyed their best start to a Premier League season under Antonio Conte. However, the North Londoners blew hot and cold before the World Cup break and the undecided futures of Conte and Harry Kane could destabilise their campaign.

Other teams looking to pip Tottenham for that Champions League spot are Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea. However, all three teams have shown inconsistent form over the first part of the campaign and will need to turn things around after Christmas to avoid missing out on a spot in Europe’s elite.