Arsenal and Man City Set for Defining Run in Premier League Title Race
Arsenal and Manchester City face off in what promises to be a fascinating Premier League title race, with just four points separating the teams at the halfway point of the campaign.
Man City took full advantage of Arsenal’s mistake to blow the title race wide open last weekend with a comfortable 2-0 home win over bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers.
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In a strange twist of fate, Manchester United handed their crosstown rivals a huge boost, as Michael Carrick inspired his side to a stunning 3-2 victory in north London.
Despite their first league defeat since early December, this still appears to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Gunners to end their two-decade title drought.
Priced at 2/5 to ascend the throne for the first time since Arsène Wenger last won the title, Mikel Arteta’s men are in the driver’s seat of their destiny, with the crown to lose.
The Cityzens have a mountain to climb in the second half of the season, with major bookmakers listing them as 3/1 outsiders to face Arsenal down the stretch.
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Both teams will play away this weekend, as we look at their next five league matches.
Arsenal
Despite languishing in the bottom bottom of the Premier League since the start of the season, Leeds United have enjoyed a mid-season resurgence, losing just once in their last ten league outings.
However, Arsenal were ruthless in this match, as evidenced by their formidable seven-game winning streak, including a dominant 5-0 win in the reverse fixture in August.
It’s also worth noting that they haven’t lost at Elland Road since November 2000.
Sunderland (H)
Arsenal’s first home game since making club Champions League history with a 3-2 victory over Kairat Almaty pits them against mid-table Sunderland immediately following the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final against Chelsea.
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Prior to Man Utd’s remarkable victory, Arsenal had enjoyed an exceptional 17-match unbeaten streak at home, underlining the fortress status of the Emirates Stadium.
Sunderland should have no chance here.
The trip across the capital in mid-February to the Gtech Community Stadium could present the Gunners with a much sterner test, given the Bees have only lost twice at home all season.
Against this backdrop, Arteta’s men have emerged victorious in their last three away league meetings against Brentford, conceding just one goal during that stretch.
Ending this race now would be extremely ill-timed.
Tottenham Hotspur (A)
After a 4-1 victory in the reverse fixture, Arsenal will look to complete their second successive league double against their eternal rivals from north London at the end of February.
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With Thomas Frank’s future at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium potentially in the balance, achieving this feat could prove easier said than done.
Chelsea (H)
A hat-trick of London derbies ends at the Emirates as the Gunners face top-four prospect Chelsea in early March, aiming to extend their nine-game unbeaten run against the Blues.
Three consecutive home wins against the Stamford Bridge side have put Arsenal in a strong psychological position ahead of what could prove a decisive clash for Arteta’s side.
Manchester City
Tottenham Hotspur (A)
Freshly qualified for the automatic knockout stages of the Champions League, Pep Guardiola praised the feat of his team, which should boost morale before Sunday’s trip to London.
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Spurs have been a thorn in Man City’s side recently, beating them three times in their last four meetings in all competitions, including a 2-0 win at the Etihad Stadium in August.
This clash already looks like a “hit or miss” for the Cityzens.
Liverpool (A)
There is no better way to prove your title than to defeat the reigning champions. Given Liverpool’s abysmal form this season, this may not be difficult.
However, City would be naive to underestimate the Reds after winning just one of their last five league meetings.
Fulham (H)
Man City boast one of the longest winning streaks in English football history against none other than Fulham, having beaten them in their last 19 meetings.
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On that basis, anything other than a routine home victory for Guardiola’s side would be a major surprise.
Speaking of historic runs, the Cityzens capped a 16-match home winning streak against Newcastle United with a 4-1 victory in this corresponding fixture last season.
Although the Magpies avenged that defeat with a 2-1 home win in November, the psychological barrier seemed too great for them to overcome.
Leeds United (A)
Despite facing the Whites away, this is another favorable clash for Man City, given they have won their last five league matches against Daniel Farke’s side.
That said, they have dropped points on three of their six Premier League visits to Elland Road in the 21st century.