Chelsea has to win to keep pace with Arsenal, and vice versa. Photo via Twitter.

My perfect weekend was followed by another 0-for. Somehow, all three favorites (Manchester City, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur) both shut their opponents out and didn’t score often themselves. The loss most likely ended the dream of bringing the season total into the black. At this point, it’s all about finishing the right way and trying to bring this total back to something like respectability.

It’s another limited slate of Premier League action with so many clubs having played either extra matches (like Fulham) or still playing in the FA Cup (Manchester City and others). As a result, we’re adding an FA Cup semifinal match into the mix to make this weekend all the more profitable. Here are this weekend’s winners.

EVERTON v. ARSENAL

That isn’t the sort of “we got this!” messaging that Arsenal supporters are hoping for from the manager. It’s also inconsistent with recent history. Arsenal is rolling merrily along through the Europa League draw and is unbeaten in six league matches (five of them wins) since losing to City on February 3. Additionally, Arsenal has everything to play for in the league right now. The Gunners will pass Spurs for third place in the table with a win.

Everton does not have nearly as much motivation, but the Toffees have still won three of their last five league matches and damaged Liverpool with a draw in one of the two they didn’t win. And Everton is scoring goals; six in their last three league matches and nine in their last five.

So it’s time to reach high. Arsenal should win this match, but they have been leaky on the road in league play having conceded at least once in all 14 of their league matches away from the Emirates. Both teams to score is 8/15, and that’s safe, but there’s no time for that now. Take Arsenal to win AND both teams to score at 29/10.

CHELSEA v. WEST HAM

One of the most confounding things about following the Premier League is the consistent practice of the English tabloid media of reporting when some of the league’s players go out on the lash in the days before a match, as if anyone should care or as if it will have any impact on the outcome of the upcoming match. In the above tweet, that’s Danny Drinkwater (some irony in the name there) looking like he was possibly overserved. Here’s the thing, though: Drinkwater hasn’t played for Chelsea in the league yet this season, and most likely won’t feature against West Ham, either.

Fake news.

Anyway there’s no picking against Chelsea these days. Their weird loss at Everton on March 17 is their only league loss in their last six league matches and they have won two straight. The Blues also haven’t lost at home in all competitions since January 30.

West Ham is a model of consistency recently, as long as you consider winning, then losing, then winning, then losing, consistent. The Hammers are 3-3 in their last six league matches, alternating wins and losses. But all three of the wins were at home and two of the wins came against relegation fodder (Fulham, Huddersfield Town.) West Ham is also not a prolific club against the top clubs, failing to score in either match against City, at Liverpool, home to Chelsea and at Tottenham so far this season. Take Chelsea to win at nil at 6/5.

WATFORD v. WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS (FA CUP SEMIFINAL)

It’s the ultimate good news and bad news scenario for these clubs heading into their FA Cup semifinal at Wembley on Sunday. The good news is that a win puts them into the FA Cup final, annually one of the most-watched and most-anticipated matches in all of England. The bad news is that the opponent in that final will be City, who will be heavily favored no matter which of these teams wins this match.

This match is about as even as a cup semifinal gets, too. Wolves are eighth in the league table on 47 points with a goal difference of +1. Watford is ninth in the league table with 46 points with a goal difference of 0. Their only meeting this season was at the Molyneux, where visiting Watford prevailed 2-0 in October. These clubs have another league match against each other on April 27.

Neither of these clubs is lighting it up in the league lately. Watford lost three out of four in league play before beating Fulham on Tuesday — but those three losses were at Liverpool, at City and at United. Wolves beat United on Tuesday, but lost to the very mediocre Burnley before that.

This match is a coin flip, but the odds suggest very slightly that Wolves (7/5) are the better bet than Watford (2/1.) WARNING: This pick is heavily influenced by my belief that Wolves is the better side even though all the numbers say these teams are essentially the same. Take Wolves to win at 7/5.

Good luck this weekend.

MIDWEEK RESULTS

Manchester City to beat Cardiff City AND over 3.5 goals at 8/13: LOSS

Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion to score at 13/10: LOSS

Crystal Palace to win OR draw at Tottenham Hotspur at 13/8: LOSS

MIDWEEK TOTAL: -$300

SEASON TO DATE: -$1,483