Mikel Arteta’s side are getting very close to achieving something that no one gave them much hope of achieving at the beginning of the Premier League campaign.
Manchester City may have delivered their own reminder of their abilities with victory over Liverpool, but the Gunners responded later on Saturday by seeing off Leeds with another vibrant display in attack.
With just the Premier League to focus on until the end of the campaign, Arteta is able to dedicate all of the available time to each specific league match, unlike Pep Guardiola at Man City. It may be just as well, as they have a very tough set of fixtures coming up.
This list could make for nervy reading for Arsenal fans and this trip to Anfield will certainly cause some butterfiles. It doesn’t matter that Liverpool are out of the title picture this season; this match will be incredibly tough for Arteta’s side.
The last Arsenal victory at Anfield in the Premier League came all the way back in 2012 so they are long overdue. Liverpool fans will create a raucous atmosphere as they look to salvage something from the remainder of the season and the game will be a real test of Arsenal’s steel.
They have had a few tests like that this season and, so far, they have been going well.
This could be one of the games that Man City fans are eyeing up. Even though West Ham have been very poor all season and are in the thick of the relegation fight, that could be what makes it such a tough game for Arsenal.
The West Ham fans will not only be desperate to get some points to help their bid for survival, but they will also be eager to beat another London side that’s fighting to win the title. It will require a very concentrated display from Arsenal.
It would be all well and good to go and win at Anfield but it means little if it is followed up by dropped points away at West Ham a week later.
This really falls under the exact same bracket as the game against West Ham. It is a potential banana skin but the difference is that Southampton have a worse squad than the Hammers and Arsenal will be at home.
The Gunners have had a lot of home games against sides towards the bottom in recent weeks and each time people wonder if their level will slip; so far this season, they’ve past all their tests.
Against Southampton, there is no excuse for Arsenal to get anything other than three points and when you consider the games that come up afterwards, those points may be essential.
Here is the biggest game of the season for Arsenal. It will also be the biggest for Man City if they do not get to the Champions League final.
Arsenal will be desperate to arrive at this game with as much of a buffer over City as they can. They do not want to travel to the Etihad knowing they could leave again in second place rather than at the top of the table. They also want to make sure that key players stay fit.
Facing City without the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard or Granit Xhaka would be really difficult for a young Arsenal team that is in unchartered waters now.
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There is no simple game to come after the City clash for Arsenal. They then take on one of their most-hated opponents, Chelsea.
Much like the Liverpool situation, the fact that Chelsea have been below par this season does not mean that this will be a simple game.
Graham Potter’s side is laden with players who can make something out of nothing and while it is taking time for them to gel together, they could be a more cohesive unit by the time this game comes around at the end of April.
To round off this incredibly challenging set of fixtures for Arsenal, they face another tough away trip as they take on Newcastle at St James’ Park. Arsenal’s confidence could be through the roof or through the floor here, depending on where they are in relation to City.
The match between the two sides earlier this season ended 0-0 and given Newcastle are going to be in the thick of their fight for a Champions League place, it will likely be a very tight match once again.
The margin for error in the north east will be incredibly thin and Arsenal will know it.
Credit: 90min.com
