Arsenal v Man City: Next Five Fixtures Compared – Gunners Face Tough November
· Yahoo Sports
Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Everton couldn’t have come at a better time, with Manchester City suffering their first Premier League defeat of the season at Aston Villa just hours earlier.
The results leave both clubs on 21 points, with City retaining top spot on goal difference. But while Arsenal have closed the gap, a look at the next five league fixtures suggests Mikel Arteta’s side face the tougher challenge.
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And perhaps that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Arsenal’s Tougher Run Could Be an Opportunity
Arsenal and City’s next five Premier League fixtures make interesting reading.
On paper, City certainly appear to have the kinder schedule.
Arsenal must travel to Anfield next weekend, followed by a difficult trip to St James’ Park after the international break. Sandwiched between those fixtures is a home encounter with newly promoted Hull City.
And that trip to Liverpool now looks particularly interesting after the Reds’ impressive 2-0 victory over Brighton on Sunday. Andoni Iraola celebrated his first home Premier League win as Liverpool manager, with his side looking sharp, confident and increasingly comfortable under his leadership.
Liverpool may be six points behind Arsenal, but today’s performance was a reminder of the challenge awaiting Arteta’s side at Anfield. The Reds will be looking to build on that momentum, while Arsenal have an opportunity to make a real statement in their title defence.
City, meanwhile, host Brighton and Fulham, with a trip to Nottingham Forest in between.
However, Aston Villa’s victory yesterday was another reminder that having the stronger squad doesn’t guarantee three points.
Arsenal have already demonstrated their ability to take advantage of their rivals’ slip-ups, comfortably beating Everton just hours after Manchester City’s defeat at Aston Villa.
(Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Could Arsenal Take Control Before Christmas?
The fixture that really catches the eye is City’s visit to the Emirates on November 29.
By then, both sides will have played another three league matches, and the table could look very different.
Arsenal’s trip to Liverpool offers an immediate opportunity to make a statement. City have already won at Anfield this season, so matching that result would send a powerful message.
But even a draw wouldn’t necessarily be disastrous, provided Arsenal continue collecting points elsewhere.
What matters is staying within touching distance before that potentially decisive meeting at the Emirates.
There’s also the small matter of Champions League and Carabao Cup commitments, with both clubs facing demanding schedules over the coming weeks.
Arsenal’s relatively comfortable victory over Everton showed the importance of taking care of business when their title rivals drop points. The bigger tests, however, are still to come.
And while Jamie Carragher still believes Arsenal are the team to beat, the coming fixtures will give us a much clearer picture of where both clubs stand.
For me, the next month isn’t simply about keeping pace with Manchester City. It’s an opportunity for Arsenal to show they can handle the pressure of being defending champions.
If they come through this difficult run still level with City, or even ahead of them, their title credentials will look considerably stronger.
Do you think the Gunners can emerge victorious over the coming 5 weeks?, Can we get ahead of Manchester City in the title race? That’s assuming City remain in the title conversation when their financial case is finally resolved, of course..
Join the discussion in the comments below.
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