Arsenal’s 6 key fixtures where title will be won or lost

Many Arsenal fans are starting to believe that this could be their year following their team’s 2-0 victory over Tottenham in the north London derby.

Hugo Lloris’ own-goal and a fine strike from Martin Odegaard earned Mikel Arteta’s side a crucial win over their bitter rivals to lift them eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table. The Gunners have dropped just seven points all season, winning 15 of their 18 top-flight matches.

However, they still have 20 games to play and face some stern tests during the second half of the season, including two fixtures against Manchester City. Meanwhile, Arsenal also have a couple of tricky away games in store, with Aston Villa, Newcastle, Liverpool and Fulham amongst the teams they have to play on the road.

So, with that in mind, here are six huge fixtures that the Gunners have in store between now and May.

MIKEL ARTETA

Man Utd (H) – 23/01/23
This feels like a season-defining game. Although Arsenal are nine points clear of United, Erik ten Hag’s men are the only team to beat them in the Premier League this season. The Red Devils are also the most in-form side in the division right now, having won their last five matches, and will give the Gunners another real test.

Man City (H) – 15/02/23
Arsenal’s closest challengers in terms of league position, City have stuttered of late but history suggests Pep Guardiola’s side will click into gear sometime soon. This fixture was set to be played in October but was postponed as the Gunners needed to play in a Europa League that midweek.

Aston Villa (A) – 18/02/23
This already has the ingredients to be a mouth-watering affair given it will be Unai Emery’s first game against Arsenal since returning to the Premier League in October. No one will be more motivated to beat his former employers than Emery given his sacking back in November 2019. The Villa Park crowd will also be up for his fixture and Arsenal could be in for a really tough game, despite the Midlands club’s league position.

Liverpool (A) – 08/04/23
No matter how well or poorly Liverpool are playing, Anfield is always a tough place to go. Liverpool fans will whip up a hostile atmosphere for this massive fixture, and it will have extra bite in April if the Reds are fighting for the top four and Arsenal for the title. Klopp’s men battered Arsenal 4-0 in this fixture last season.

Man City (A) – 26/04/23

Arsenal last beat City at the Etihad Stadium back in January 2015, with Guardiola’s men winning the last six matches between the two sides in Manchester. With the Gunners set to travel to City on January 27 in the FA Cup, they will already have had a taste this season of what this fixture is like – but there’s no doubt this one is more important.

Newcastle (A) – 06/05/23
Eddie Howe’s men are one of two sides to draw against Arsenal in the league this term, the other being Southampton. However, it felt as though the stalemate with Newcastle was more acceptable given that the Magpies are flying high towards the top of the table, while the Saints were stuttering. Arteta’s side have got to face Southampton before the trip to St James’ Park, but the latter fixture feels tougher and a potential banana skin.