'Going to finish fifth': Jamie O'Hara predicts his Premier League top four this season, makes shock exclusion

By Milo Clay

The fight to finish in the top four in the Premier League looks set to be a tough battle this season with Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Chelsea all strengthening their sides this summer. 

And former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara has spoken to Sky Sports News and backed Arsenal to make the top four ahead of Chelsea. 

The Gunners missed out on Champions League football last time out to bitter rivals Spurs, while Thomas Tuchel’s men finished above both North London teams in third. 

But O’Hara thinks Chelsea will slip down to fifth this season, with Antonio Conte and Mikel Arteta’s sides finishing above them. 

O’Hara backs Arsenal for top four and Chelsea for fifth  

Speaking on Sky Sports News today, O’Hara has backed Arsenal and Spurs to finish in the top four while shockingly excluding Chelsea from regaining Champions League football. 

“I mean, Manchester City are going to run away with it this season, I think,” he said. 

“Liverpool second. Spurs are going to finish third and Arsenal are going to finish fourth. Chelsea are out of top four and going to finish fifth.”

The TalkSPORT pundit has made a bold prediction and left Tuchel’s team out of the top four, despite finishing above both Spurs and Arsenal in each of the last four seasons. 

If that was to be the case it would have to go down as a big surprise, even though all of the London rivals have been working hard to boost their chances of finishing in the top four this season. 

Tottenham have made six new signings and shown real intent by backing Conte. While the Gunners have brought in five new players including Premier League winners in Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus. 

Chelsea have been the least active of the clubs so far but have signed two top-class players in Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly. 

TBR’s View: As things stand, O’Hara may just be right 

It may be a bold prediction if you look at recent history, but Chelsea have a lot of work left to do this summer. The Blues need more reinforcements and have missed out on Raphinha, and possibly even Jules Kounde, both to Barcelona. 

Whereas Spurs and Arsenal have both done their required business relatively early in the window, despite the possibility that the teams could add more players yet. 

Chelsea have looked unconvincing during pre-season and even lost to Arteta’s side 4-0 last weekend. Friendlies are meaningless when the season comes around but Spurs and Arsenal look in better shape at this moment in time.