With most clubs having only seven or eight games left to play of an exhilarating season, our writers assess what they need to do to end the season on a high

Arsenal

What they need to do to have a successful end to the season Arsène Wenger and his team have no further margin for error and, above all, they must show the mental strength that he constantly rabbits on about – in the face of mounting supporter unrest. The big players, such as Alexis Sánchez, have to step it up.

What would constitute success at this stage? The title. And nothing else. Key player Mesut Özil

David Hytner

Aston Villa

What they need to do Twelve points adrift with seven matches remaining, Villa need a miracle. Every area of the team has to dramatically improve, from their error-prone goalkeeper to their toothless forward line. But let’s not kid ourselves it’s going to happen.

Success at this stage Winning another game/reaching 20 points Key player Steve Hollis, chairman

Stuart James

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Aston Villa’s new chairman Steve Hollis is the key man with the club in freefall and heading for relegation. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA

Bournemouth

What they need to do It is essentially job done for Bournemouth but Eddie Howe will not allow his side to end the season with a whimper. Last week’s training camp to Dubai ought to have reinvigorated any of the more tired legs in the squad given the tricky run in ahead. Joshua King has come to the fore again of late, possibly buoyed by Callum Wilson’s return to training while Simon Francis and Steve Cook have made remarkable progress as a centre-back pairing.

Success at this stage It’s still all about survival Key player Joshua King

Ben Fisher

Chelsea

What they need to do The season can not be properly redeemed but blooding a few of the kids in the weeks ahead, and beating Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur (in particular) to assist Leicester’s title challenge, might generate some enthusiasm before the arrival of Antonio Conte

Success at this stage “Success” is beyond them, but a top-seven finish might save some face if there is also some evidence of forward-planning Key player Ruben Loftus-Cheek

Dominic Fifield

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Diego Costa. Photograph: John Sibley/Reuters

Crystal Palace

What they need to do Muster enough points to stave off the increasing threat of relegation after a 13-match winless run in the Premier League, while also reaching the second FA Cup final in their history. To do that they will have to nurse James McArthur and Jason Puncheon back to fitness, and try and get a run of games out of Connor Wickham.

Success at this stage Survival and a Cup final appearance Key player Jason Puncheon DF

Everton

What they need to do Not even a consistent run of wins and clean sheets could turn this Premier League campaign into a success for Everton, though Roberto Martínez would insist otherwise. Eight league defeats at Goodison Park – one more than in the brush with relegation under Howard Kendall in 1998 – and the most league goals conceded at home – three more than Aston Villa – are the obvious weaknesses to address.

Success at this stage Winning the FA Cup is the only thing that can redeem this season for Martínez Key player Romelu Lukaku

Andy Hunter

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Romelu Lukaku has been a shining light in a disappointing season for Everton. Photograph: Matt West/BPI/REX/Shutterstock

Leicester City

What they need to do The big question is whether Claudio Ranieri’s team can handle the pressure at the top when it really starts to be cranked up. So far, so good. Keeping Mahrez, Kanté and Vardy fit is essential, and that Huth and Morgan partnership is also key.

Success at this stage You mean it’s not been a success already? OK, winning the title. Key player Riyad Mahrez SJ

Liverpool

What they need to do The late collapse at Southampton before the international break encapsulated Liverpool’s season and Jürgen Klopp’s frustration. Just when the team appear to have clicked – defensively and in attack – they regress, although pre-St Mary’s form had fuelled belief in a concerted challenge for European qualification. More is required from central midfield.

Success at this stage A consistent run reflecting the development of Klopp’s style. Champions League qualification via a Europa League triumph would not go amiss either. Key player Philippe Coutinho AH

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, and his key man, Philippe Coutinho. Photograph: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Manchester City

What they need to do Be shaken from their slumber and made to realise Champions League football could be missed unless they put a run together. If Joe Hart misses only one league game due to his injury sustained in the derby and Kevin De Bruyne can return for the last seven or eight matches, City can surely do what is required.

Success at this stage The way they are free-falling – a top-four finish Key player Sergio Agüero

Jamie Jackson

Manchester United

What they need to do Louis van Gaal to choose a settled side that would include the soon-to-return from injury Wayne Rooney at No10, Marcus Rashford at centre-forward, and Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard out wide. This front four would have the pace and goals United miss too often.

Success at this stage A top-four finish Key player At the moment, Marcus Rashford JJ

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Marcus Rashford has made an outstanding start to his Manchester United career. Photograph: Jon Super/AP

Newcastle United

What they need to do Become more direct. Seemingly incapable of passing through opponents, this team is better suited to counter-attacking. More quality crosses are required and, possibly, a switch to 4-4-2. Moussa Sissoko could provide an unlikely answer to the problem vacancy at left-back and Cheick Tioté may need to be recalled in order to anchor midfield and protect a dangerously under-staffed defence.

Success at this stage Survival Key player Papiss Cissé

Louise Taylor

Norwich City

What they need to do Four points and two clean sheets in their last two games have slowed Norwich’s hurtle towards the abyss. The January signing Timm Klose has been excellent at centre-back and now they need to add greater cutting edge for the final six weeks. Is Steven Naismith, underwhelming on the whole since his high-profile arrival, now match-fit enough to make the difference and could Patrick Bamford rescue his own season of arrested development? They may have to.

Success at this stage Any finish above 18th place – no matter how close a call Key player Steven Naismith

Nick Ames

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Can January arrivals Timm Klose and Steven Naismith keep Norwich up? Photograph: Craig Brough/Reuters

Southampton

What they have to do Ronald Koeman’s team have been very good since the middle of January and, happily for them, they have key players coming into form such as Fraser Forster and Graziano Pellè. Concentration over the full 90 minutes, during a tricky run-in, will be vital. Comeback victories like the 3-2 over Liverpool will not happen every weekend.

Success at this stage Europa League qualification Key player Graziano Pellè DH

Stoke City

What they need to do to Having lost only one of their past six league games, Stoke must pick up after the international break where they left off – although several key injuries, most notably Jack Butland’s fractured ankle, will not help. Stoke’s best performances have come when Bojan Krkic and Marko Arnautovic have clicked and that partnership will need to be firing again for the April games with Liverpool, Spurs and Man City.

Success at this stage Improving on last season’s ninth-placed finish Key player Marko Arnautovic

Lawrence Ostlere

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Marko Arnautovic laps up the love of Stoke’s supporters. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

Sunderland

What they need to do Wrap Jermain Defoe in cotton wool between games. Keep the impressive Jan Kirchhoff patrolling the zone between midfield and defence. Make the very best of Wahbi Khazri’s stellar set-piece delivery. Decide whether Younès Kaboul or John O’Shea is Lamine Koné’s best central defensive partner. Keep Lee Cattermole on the bench.

Success at this stage Survival Key player Jermain Defoe LT

Swansea City

What they have to do Alberto Paloschi could do with a goal or two, it would be nice to see Modou Barrow build on some promising performances, and for Gylfi Sigurdsson, Swansea’s best player, to sign off for the Euros with a flourish. In other news, what on earth happened to Jefferson Montero?

Success at this stage 11th (top of the bottom half) Key player Gylfi Sigurdsson SJ

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Any idea where on earth Jefferson Montero is? Photograph: Ian Kington/AFP/Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur

What they have to do This is nosebleed territory for Tottenham but a young team have shown no sign of nerves or fatigue. With 25 points from the last available 30, they have momentum and the belief that they can beat anybody. They must concentrate on what they can control but how they could come to regret that 1-0 home defeat to Leicester City in January.

Success at this stage Champions League qualification would be a magnificent achievement but they want more Key player Harry Kane DH

Watford

What they they need to do It would be good to find a means of regularly scoring other than Troy Deeney flicking or looping balls forward for Odion Ighalo to run on to. The Moroccan winger Nordin Amrabat looks the most likely to provide one, though moving José Manuel Jurado permanently infield, or off it entirely, might also help.

Success at this stage It has already been achieved, but at least one more league win and an FA Cup final appearance would crown it Key player Nordin Amrabat

Simon Burnton

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Can Watford find a way of scoring that doesn’t involve Troy Deeney flicking or looping balls forward for Odion Ighalo to run on to? Photograph: Stephen Pond/Getty Images

West Bromwich Albion

What they they need to do Pulis being Pulis, it is still all about getting to 40 points (they are one shy). Darren Fletcher mentioned 50 points a few weeks ago and was reprimanded by his manager live on air. Albion have a tough run-in but Salomón Rondón and Saido Berahino, on their day, are a handful.

Success at this stage Breaking through the 50-point barrier for the first time Key player Saido Berahino SJ

West Ham United

What they they need to do After months of injuries, Slaven Bilic is likely to have a fully fit squad for the visit of Palace on Saturday and the feelgood factor around Upton Park should grow even stronger if it stays that way

Success at this stage Finishing fourth and winning the FA Cup Key player Dimitri Payet

Jacob Steinberg