The title battle – Sportsmail looks at Arsenal and Man City's schedule
Arsenal can go EIGHT points clear of Man City at the top of the Premier League this weekend as both sides head into the final stretch: The key fixtures remaining in two-way fight for the title
- Arsenal currently hold a five-point lead over Man City at the top of the table
- The Gunners can extend that to eight points with City not playing this weekend
- Sportsmail breaks down the key fixtures for both sides ahead of the final run-in
Arsenal have the opportunity to go eight points clear at the top of the Premier League when they play Crystal Palace this weekend.
Manchester City’s participation in the FA Cup and the international break that follows means Pep Guardiola’s side will not play another league match until April 1.
That fixture? Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium. City lost at Anfield earlier this season and should they come unstuck once again, Arsenal could go even further ahead if they beat a struggling Leeds side.
Both of the top two have a similar run of fixtures between now and the end of the season, with each facing teams fighting relegation as well as clubs battling for Europe.
With the title race starting to heat up, Sportsmail has broken down the remaining games of both clubs and given each a difficulty rating out of five.
The fight for the Premier League title between Arsenal and Man City is entering its final stretch
Arsenal lead City by five points, but will be eight clear if they beat Crystal Palace on Sunday
Pep Guardiola’s side now don’t play until April 1 due to being in the FA Cup quarter-finals
MARCH
ARSENAL
19 – Crystal Palace (H) – 2/5
Arsenal’s final game this month is against a team that is yet to win a game since the turn of the year. The Gunners, however, will have to be wary not to underestimate their opponents.
Palace held out for 78 minutes against City and are always capable of producing a big performance out of the blue.
Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira could really do with the points but Mikel Arteta’s side should have too much for the Eagles.
Arsenal take on Crystal Palace who kept City at bay for 78 minutes, before eventually losing 1-0
APRIL
ARSENAL
1 – Leeds (H) 2/5
9 – Liverpool (A) 4/5
13 – Potential Europa League quarter-final
16 – West Ham (A) 2.5/5
20 – Potential Europa League quarter-final
21 – Southampton (H) 2/5
26 – Manchester City (A) 5/5
29 – Chelsea (H) 4/5
Average difficult rating: 3.25
Arsenal’s biggest tests in April look to be away from home, with trips to Liverpool, West Ham and the all-important showdown at the Etihad on the 26th.
Anfield is one of the toughest stadiums to play at, as Manchester United found out, and the Gunners were well beaten there last season. Liverpool have defensive weaknesses that Arsenal can exploit but they will need to ensure they are not overpowered by the atmosphere.
The visit to West Ham will also not be easy given David Moyes’ side are in a relegation battle and desperate to pick up points. Arsenal should win their home games against Leeds and Southampton, who are also battling at the bottom, but a London derby with Chelsea will be a tough end to the month.
Arsenal face a tough trip to Anfield – a ground at which they were thrashed 4-0 last season
They also have to visit The London Stadium to play a West Ham side fighting for survival
MANCHESTER CITY
1 – Liverpool (H) 4/5
9 – Southampton (A) 2/5
11/12 – Potential Champions League quarter-final
16 – Leicester (H) 2/5
18/19 – Potential Champions League quarter-final
23 – Brighton (A) 3.5/5
26 – Arsenal (H) 5/5
30 – Fulham (A) 3/5
Average difficulty rating: 3.25
Like Arsenal, City have to play Liverpool. This will be a key fixture as it will be their first league game in three weeks due to the FA Cup and international break. Should Arsenal win their game against Palace, they will start that weekend eight points adrift.
City would be expected to beat Southampton and Leicester but a trip to in-form Brighton will be a tough test before facing Arsenal at home. They could also have a Champions League quarter-final to play before taking on the Seagulls.
Both City and Arsenal have fairly similar fixtures in April with difficult away ties and games against teams fighting for survival. This could well be the month where the title is won.
City lost 1-0 to Liverpool in the game at Anfield this season, with Mo Salah scoring the winner
They have a tough away trip to in-form Brighton who have been superb under Roberto De Zerbi
MAY
ARSENAL
6 – Newcastle (A) – 3.5/5
11 – Potential Europa League semi-final
13 – Brighton (H) – 3.5/5
18 – Potential Europa League semi-final
20 – Nottingham Forest (A) 2.5/5
28 – Wolves (H) 2/5
Average difficult rating – 2.8
Arsenal have a difficult start to May with a tricky away fixture at Newcastle, who will likely still be in the battle for European football. The Magpies frustrated the Gunners at the Emirates earlier in the season and look to be back on track after a mid-season drop off.
Brighton could also still be in the hunt for Europe and will be another tough fixture. Arsenal’s final two games are arguably better than City’s. Nottingham Forest will not be easy given they have a good home record and have taken points off big teams at the City Ground this season.
Just how tricky it will be will depend on whether Steve Cooper’s side are still in the mix for relegation. Given how tight it is at the bottom of the table, their fate will not have been decided by the penultimate game of the season.
It seems unlikely that Wolves, the Gunners’ final day opponents, will need something from their game at the Emirates given they have been in a better run of form. But if they are not safe from relegation suddenly that fixture will be trickier than it looks.
Arsenal will hope to open up as big a lead as possible before City return to action on April 1
MANCHESTER CITY
6 – Leeds (H) 2/5
9/10 – Potential Champions League semi-final
13 – Everton (A) 2.5/5
16/17 – Potential Champions League semi-final
20 – Chelsea (H) 4/5
28 – Brentford (A) 3.5/5
Average difficulty rating – 3
City’s first two fixtures of May are against teams that will no doubt still be fighting for survival. Guardiola’s side should have too much for Leeds but a trip to Goodison Park is a potential banana skin. City have come unstuck there in the past and Sean Dyche’s men will no doubt do everything they can to frustrate and grind out a result.
The final two games of the season are also tough. Chelsea could still be in with a chance of qualifying for Europe while Brentford have already beaten City once this season and have an incredible record against the big six.
It is not impossible that the Bees could have something to play for too, given they are only four points off sixth place.
City face a slightly tougher run-in on paper, with tricky away trips to Everton and Brentford
Total average difficulty rating:
Arsenal – 2.5
Manchester City – 3
Arsenal arguably have a slight advantage when it comes to the remaining fixtures but there is not much between them and the difficulty could be affected by what other teams need or don’t need come the end of the season.
The key could be how much of a lead Arsenal can build up before City next play in the league on April 1.
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