Famous player‘s comments on Arsenal and Manchester United for fourth place

The race for fourth place in the Premier League is wide open, with no-one making a convincing case that it is theirs for keeps this season - so who will grab the final Champions League qualification spot?

"Arsenal have got games in hand but I just feel that sometimes, when the pressure is on them, they cave in a bit," said BBC Sport football expert Mark Lawrenson.

"Tottenham are losing games and losing ground, and the problem for West Ham is that they don't have the biggest squad. Wolves are outsiders too, because of their lack of goals.

"The top three will stay clear and I just think that, by hook or by crook, Manchester United are going to get fourth place. They are still picking up points even if the way they are playing is totally unconvincing at the moment."

Lawro is making predictions for all 380 top-flight matches this season, against a variety of guests.

This week's guest is pianist, singer-songwriter and Aston Villa fan Reuben James.

James, who has a new album coming out in May, made his name writing and touring with Sam Smith, performing with him at the Oscars and the Grammys.

He is currently working on Smith's new record after returning from Los Angeles this week, where he had been working with Marcus Mumford.

"I was there for a month so it was a long stint," he told BBC Sport. "Thank god for NBC because it has kept me updated on the football - and the Villa.

"I only got back a few hours ago, and haven't really had much sleep because of jetlag. My mum was like, 'make sure you look up what has been happening before your interview'.

"I was like, 'I am more prepared for this than any music interview, ever!'"

James was born in Birmingham and brought up in Bromford, and there was only ever one team for him.

He explained: "Where I'm from, it's either 'Villa 'til you die', or you are a Blue Nose - and I definitely wasn't going to become a Blue Nose!

"My dad took me down the Villa every week and I just fell in love with them.

"Dwight Yorke was a massive hero of mine - I was a striker too - and football was my life for a long time until I found music. I was very upset when he left for Manchester United.

"Going to games was a big part of me growing up and experiencing different cultures - for good and bad. When you go to games as a kid you meet so many fans from different walks of life, which is real eye opener, but sadly I experienced racism too.

"I think you grow up so fast from watching football, because even when you are a kid you are surrounded by adults and you are in their world.

"Following Villa has given me plenty of ups and downs over the years, but I really do feel it is a great time to be a Villa fan right now.

"It's great that we've got this great ambition again and the club is showing signs of intent - they're not just buzzwords either, because it really does feel like it could be the start of something under Steven Gerrard.

"We've made signings like Philippe Coutinho - who we absolutely have to buy permanently in the summer by the way - and we've also got some fantastic young players coming through. The future is really bright, and I've not been this optimistic for a long time.