Arsenal are eyeing their first Premier League title since the Invincible season of 2003/04 but they have to get past Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola’s side have dominated the Premier League over the past four seasons, winning four consecutive league titles, as well as picking up the domestic treble.
City have won the league six times from the previous seven campaigns, telling of how difficult the task is to stop Guardiola’s machine.
Arsenal and Mikel Arteta took over from Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool as the next squad to challenge City however, the Gunners are looking at a tough task ahead to be crowned champions in May.
Arsenal’s September Premier League fixtures are crucial to the title race
Arsenal went into the international break carrying the frustration of their home draw against Brighton, dropping points for the first time in the season.
September is gruelling for Arsenal, like many other Premier League sides, as the Champions League and Carabao Cup commence.
Arteta’s squad will play five games in the space of 13 days in September, with their league fixtures set to be a true test of their claim to the title.
- Tottenham Hotspur (A) – Premier League – 15/09
- Atalanta (A) – Champions League – 19/09
- Manchester City (A) – Premier League – 22/09
- Bolton Wanderers (H) – Carabao Cup – 25/09
- Leicester City (H) – Premier League – 28/09
First, Arsenal travel to Spurs in the North London derby, followed by a trip to the Etihad to play City before returning to the Emirates to battle Leicester City.
Given the form that Guardiola’s side have started the season in, it’s unlikely that Arsenal can afford to drop points already, which could be an issue regarding the next two fixtures.
In an ideal situation, Arsenal will pick up six points from the two games to remain on City’s tail although, they’d have to do something they haven’t done in 17 years to achieve such feat.
You’d have to go back to the 2007/08 season to revisit the last time that Arsenal beat both Manchester City and Tottenham away from home in a Premier League campaign.
Since then, Arsenal have dropped points at either ground concurrently, telling of the task ahead after the international break.
Perfection is needed to usurp Manchester City
Speaking ahead of the North London derby, Arsenal legend Paul Merson emphasised the importance of Arsenal getting a result in their next two away games.
Merson said there will be ‘miles too many’ points to catch up on if the Gunners fail to get results at either the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium or the Etihad.
| Premier League wins v Manchester City (A) | Result that season against Spurs (A) |
| January 2015: 0-2 | L – February 2015: 2-1 |
| October 2010: 0-3 | D – April 2011: 3-3 |
| February 2008: 1-3 | W – September 2007: 1-3 |
“If they don’t win this game then lose to Man City, then they could be seven, eight, nine, points behind and I’m afraid that will be miles too many.”
It seems pessimistic to rule a side out of the Premier League title race as early as September although, that is the size of the task in hand due to the power that Manchester City hold on the league.
Wins against Spurs and City in September almost feel essential, particularly after Arteta’s side dropped points to Brighton.
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