Premier League Run-In Roulette: Arsenal Laughing, Chelsea Sweating Bullets

Picture this: the Premier League is down to its last eight games for most sides, pitches turning into mud baths, and every point feeling like gold dust. Results trump flair now, as fans pore over fixture lists like battle plans. Thanks to Opta's clever Power Rankings, we've got the definitive guide to who's got the cakewalk and who's facing a gauntlet of gnarly clashes.

Toughest Slog: Everton's Nightmare, Wolves' Breeze

Top of the 'easiest remaining fixtures' pile are Wolves with a mean difficulty score of 88.83 – basically a gentle stroll in the park compared to the rest. Leeds (89.38) aren't far behind, which is music to their ears in the scrap to stay up. Brighton (90.13) and Aston Villa (90.28) round out the top four kinder schedules, a boon for Villa after their wobbles.

Flip it over, and it's grim reading. Everton top the nightmare charts at 92.57, with Crystal Palace (92.30) and West Ham (92.01) not far off. The Toffees face Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea, and Liverpool yet – no wonder their Euro dreams are flickering. Hammers, flying high under Nuno, still need miracles against this lot.

Chelsea fans, grab a stiff drink. The Blues clock in at 91.70, the hardest run-in among top-seven hopefuls. They've nicked points off big boys before – think that 4-1 thrashing of Villa – but doubles with Liverpool and City loom large.

Title Tilt: Gunners Hold the Cards

In the blockbuster Arsenal vs Man City showdown, Mikel Arteta's lot have the edge. Gunners' mean difficulty sits pretty at 90.30, their only top-seven clash left being that April trip to the Etihad – winner takes the lot, probably. City? Tougher sledding at 91.44, with return bouts against Chelsea and Villa, plus tricky awaydays at Everton and Bournemouth.

Man Utd (91.33) and Liverpool (91.52) chase top-five glory too. Reds have a brutal finale: Chelsea, Villa, and Old Trafford in the last four weeks. United's no picnic either, but stats give them a nudge over Liverpool's lot.

Spurs (90.49) oddly in the drop zone mix get some kind draws, bar late tests with Chelsea and Villa. Forest (90.72) and Leeds can breathe easier than most scrappers.

Arsenal's Banana Skins: From Piss-Easy to Wire-Walk

Arsenal lead by seven points (City have a game in hand), eyeing their first title in two decades. But bottle jobs haunt Gooner memories, so let's rank their eight left from doddle to disaster.

8. Arsenal v Burnley (May 17): Likely a coronation party if they keep winning. Clarets could be toast by then; Gunners smashed them 2-0 earlier.

7. Crystal Palace v Arsenal (May 24): Final-day nerves? Palace have only beaten Arteta once recently, but cup ties were nail-biters.

Mid-table: Home wins over Bournemouth and Fulham look banker-ish. Newcastle away (91.21 difficulty) could sting if Magpies hit stride.

Watch Man Utd (home), Brighton (away), and that City beast. Slip here, and Pep's crew pounce. Arteta's crew have feasted on softies lately, but pressure's the real foe.

As SI Soccer and Football365 flagged, it's all about navigating the chaos. Relegation fodder like Burnley face simpler paths, but glory boys must grind. Who's bottling? Grab your scarf – it's crunch time.