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• Arsenal's season a positive step even if title eludes them, says Parlour

  Arsenal will be better for the experience of pushing Manchester City close even if they fail to capture the Premier League title this season, says former Gunners midfielder Ray Parlour.

  Having dropped away during the run-in as City captured their third straight title in 2022-23, Mikel Arteta's side have kicked on this campaign and currently hold a one-point lead at the summit.

  However, City have three games to play to Arsenal's two, leaving the Gunners praying for a slip-up from the champions, who face Fulham, Tottenham and West Ham in their remaining fixtures.

  While Parlour finds it difficult to see City dropping points at this stage, he believes this season has been another positive step for Arteta's team, whatever the outcome.

  Parlour, an ambassador for NetBet, told Stats Perform: "I think it's been so positive this season. 

  "Even if they do come second, I think they've got better from last year and that's all you can keep doing, keep improving. 

  "We all know Man City are an absolute machine. Arsenal just have to keep trying to improve. It's a young team, they'll learn every year by going close, by playing big games. It can only be good for them. 

  "I'm sure they'll be looking in the market in the summer, trying to get the right people in. I think it's been positive.

  "The problem is you set the bar high and it's not going to get lower, it's got to go a little bit higher again. That's the hard bit, to keep maintaining the consistency, what you've done so far."

  City are unbeaten in their last 20 Premier League games (16 wins, four draws). They have won each of their last six while netting four or more goals in five of them – against Aston Villa (4-1), Crystal Palace (4-2), Luton Town (5-1), Brighton and Hove Albion (4-0) and Wolves (5-1).

  Parlour admits the champions' form is ominous and believes Arsenal will look back on last month's 2-0 defeat to Villa with plenty of regrets, saying: "All they can do is keep winning games. 

  "I look at Man City's run-in, I just can't see them dropping a point, that's my problem. Football's a funny game, so it can happen. I've seen Crystal Palace go to the Etihad and beat them, but it doesn't happen too often, especially towards the end of the season.

  "Arsenal have really pushed them all the way. They'll be kicking themselves a little bit with the Aston Villa game, but sometimes games don't go your way."

  Ray Parlour was speaking on behalf of NetBet Sports Betting.

• Philadelphia Union v Orlando City: Curtin looking for improvement amid tough run

  Jim Curtin is calling for his Philadelphia Union side to improve ahead of the visit of Orlando City this weekend.

  The Union are on a run of four games without a victory, needing to come from two goals behind to salvage a 2-2 draw away at D.C. United last weekend.

  The poor run has left the Union eighth in the Eastern Conference, already 10 points behind leaders Inter Miami.

  Curtin knows his side must get better ahead of back-to-back home games, telling reporters: "We still have a lot we can improve.

  "We go back home for two games and we have to play with confidence. That's really when this group are at their best."

  Orlando, meanwhile, are in the midst of their own underwhelming start, winning just two of their first 10 MLS games to leave them 14th in the East.

  Oscar Pareja's men went down 1-0 at home to FC Cincinnati last weekend, and the Orlando head coach was disappointed with the performance and defeat.

  "It's another frustrating night because of the result," Pareja said. "Obviously, at this point we are needing urgency to get points."

  Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese added: "We’re trying to push a certain way instead of being ourselves. This team just has to fix that and try and be ourselves."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Philadelphia Union – Daniel Gazdag

  Gazdag has started the season impressively in front of goal, netting six times in nine matches to kick off the campaign. If Philadelphia are to get themselves back up towards the top of the East, Gazdag may be the man to fire them to it.

  Orlando City – Duncan McGuire

  Orlando have found it tricky in front of goal so far this term, and McGuire leads the team's scoring charts with four, double what any of his team-mates have managed. It will likely fall upon him to provide his team's main goal threat again on Saturday.

  MATCH PREDICTION – PHILADELPHIA WIN

  The Union have lost back-to-back home matches after losing just two of their previous 51 at Subaru Park in all competitions. Philadelphia have never suffered a three-match home losing streak in all competitions in club history.

  Orlando faced just seven shots in the defeat to Cincinnati last weekend as they've conceded a league-low 9.7 shots per match this season. Opponents have converted a league-high 18.6% of their shots into goals against the Lions this season, however.

  Orlando won 2-1 at the Union in the last meeting between the sides in Chester in March 2023, but the Lions have never avoided defeat in consecutive away matches against Philadelphia in all competitions and the Union look the favourites to earn the three points this weekend.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Philadelphia: 54.2%

  Orlando: 19.7%

  Draw: 26.1%

• St. Louis City v Chicago Fire: Carnell warns against complacency amid unbeaten run

  Bradley Carnell has warned his St. Louis City side they can't get comfortable despite a four-game unbeaten run.

  Carnell's men last lost in March, since winning one and drawing three to leave St. Louis ninth in the Western Conference, just three points behind sixth-placed Austin FC.

  As his team prepares to host the Chicago Fire this weekend, Carnell has cautioned his players not to become complacent.

  "We can speak so many nice positives, especially with our three clean sheets in four and there are so many good moments," Carnell said.

  "But I also don't want to get comfortable with that. I don't want to be used to getting draws. I don't want to hype up getting ties."

  Carnell's side will look to extend their unbeaten run against a Fire team winless in four, currently 13th in the East after a poor start.

  Chicago head coach Frank Klopas hopes his team don't lose faith, telling reporters: "Our focus is to continue to stay positive with the group.

  "It's a process of evaluating and looking at how we can improve as a team, and then making sure once we analyse the games we look at certain things we did well and our mistakes to look to improve.

  "It's a long season. I feel the team has been playing well, but we have to find a way to get points."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  St. Louis City – Joao Klauss

  No St. Louis player has managed more MLS goal contributions than Klauss so far this term, scoring three and adding an assist. He will likely lead the line on Saturday and will hope to score the goals that start turning draws into wins.

  Chicago Fire – Brian Gutierrez

  Despite his team's poor collective start, 20-year-old midfielder Gutierrez has performed well and leads his team with three MLS goals so far this season, while also registering an assist. He will look to build on that and try to turn his side's fortunes around, starting this Saturday.

  MATCH PREDICTION – ST. LOUIS WIN

  St. Louis have kept clean sheets in three of their last four matches, including in the scoreless draw with the Houston Dynamo last time out. St. Louis had managed just two clean sheets in their previous 23 matches in all competitions dating back to last July.

  The Fire, meanwhile, have failed to score in four straight matches. This is the fifth time Chicago have gone four or more consecutive league matches without scoring since the start of the 2021 season.

  Six of St. Louis City's last eight matches have ended in draws, but home advantage should be enough to see off a struggling Chicago team on Saturday.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  St. Louis: 55.5%

  Chicago: 19%

  Draw: 25.5%