The Premier League title race between Arsenal and Manchester City will only get hotter as the weeks progress, so we've crunched the numbers to compare their fixture difficulty between now and the next international break at the end of March.
Arsenal currently hold the advantage, having enjoyed a sensational first half of the season, and sit five points clear at the Premier League summit.
But Manchester City are experienced campaigners under Pep Guardiola; they've won four of the last five Premier League titles and whittled down Liverpool's eight-point lead to clinch the championship back in 2019.
The two challengers are yet to meet in a league fixture this season, but City will hope their recent 1-0 win in the FA Cup bodes well for their two Premier League clashes with Mikel Arteta's Arsenal.
The Gunners host City on 15 February – circle the date in your diary for that one – and generally have more favourable fixtures than their title rivals between now and the end of March.
Arteta's side will only two other top-half teams in that period – Brentford and Fulham – and will surely fancy their chances of picking up maximum points in their other assignments before the relegation dogfight becomes desperate and the bottom-dwellers start playing above themselves.
Meanwhile, City have tougher challenges ahead. They visit Tottenham, a frequent bogey team, on Sunday and also host Newcastle at the start of March.
Guardiola's men also face two Champions League fixtures against Leipzig and a tricky-looking FA Cup tie at Bristol City. Arsenal are still in the Europa League, but the signings of Leandro Trossard and Jorginho clearly show a first league title since 2004 is the club's priority.
We've added up the current league position of both Arsenal and City's next eight league opponents – with Arsenal counting for one point and bottom side Southampton counting for 20 – and worked out the average strength of each side's upcoming fixtures.
Note: all fixtures in cup competitions (both domestic and continental) are listed in italics. Arsenal's Europa League opponents are unknown at the time of publication.
Arsenal
04/02 – Everton (A)
11/02 – Brentford (H)
15/02 – Manchester City (H)
18/02 – Aston Villa (A)
25/02 – Leicester (A)
04/03 – Bournemouth (H)
09/03 – Europa League last 16 (A)
12/03 – Fulham (A)
16/03 – Europa League last 16 (H)
19/03 – Crystal Palace (H)
Average league position of opponents: 11.4
Manchester City
05/02 – Tottenham (A)
12/02 – Aston Villa (H)
15/02 – Arsenal (A)
18/02 – Nottingham Forest (A)
22/02 – RB Leipzig (A)
25/02 – Bournemouth (A)
01/03 – Bristol City (A)
04/03 – Newcastle (H)
11/03 – Crystal Palace (A)
14/03 – RB Leipzig (H)
19/03 – West Ham (H)
Average league position of opponents: 9.9
biblo2
0
Remove chelsea there
Kkkkkk ok
KingEric
1
Doesn't matter 'cause City are still the best team in the world and they are gonna win the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. #ComeonyouCityzens
Mamtachris
0
Up Gunners 💪, we gonna make it with full hope
Akorede41
0
They don't have it yet - its still open for any team to take... you can only celebrate trophies or titles that are in your cabinet not the ones you still nees to play for....
Teams like Chelsea and Liverpool right?
Raedksy
0
just like it has been from the beginning of the season and that's why city remain top of the table. I laugh in Chinese 🤣
You must be reading in Chinese as well.
DominicChege
0
Bro stop lying Arsenal have to play with big teams like Liverpool,Chelsea, Newcastle and man city two times. You're still too far to be champions of England
Remove chelsea there
teoeilmuz
1
From elephant will fall from the tree to whom have they played and now not celebrating EPL in January etc Arsenal is focusing on their next game Rivals, your shadows are chasing you around not Arsenal
teoeilmuz
0
From elephant will fall from the tree to whom have they played and now not celebrating EPL in January etc Arsenal is focusing on their next game and the Rivals, your shadows are chasing you around not Arsenal
ClemJay
0
They don't have it yet - its still open for any team to take... you can only celebrate trophies or titles that are in your cabinet not the ones you still nees to play for....
let's keep watching
peaceofmind
2
I see 24 point in 8 matches
Alhaji30
0
Why are you not talking about City vs Arsenal Fa cup game result
Epl not fa cup
biblo2
0
is today still January for you huh? ooo wake up from your sleep na. can't you see city still have to play against Tottenham ARSENAL Newcastle while ARSENAL only have city as only big game in that period get some sense man
Bro stop lying Arsenal have to play with big teams like Liverpool,Chelsea, Newcastle and man city two times. You're still too far to be champions of England
biblo2
0
I think arsenal have just loose once, and I think man u who beat us was also beaten by arsenal which team is the best to arsenal now?
Why are you not talking about City vs Arsenal Fa cup game result
yezbcdior
1
I think arsenal have just loose once, and I think man u who beat us was also beaten by arsenal which team is the best to arsenal now?
Vejandja9
1
it's February bro
Tell him/her😂
Yuabcdmnty
0
is today still January for you huh? ooo wake up from your sleep na. can't you see city still have to play against Tottenham ARSENAL Newcastle while ARSENAL only have city as only big game in that period get some sense man
celebrate games you have played and win already - you don't count points of games you haven't played. even small teams will shock you especially these return matches
Yuabcdmnty
0
Arsenal fans League title is not celebrated in January.... league title is celebrated in May... A lot of teans including Arsenal have been on top of the league in January but did not end up lifting the league title in May..... Don't get over yourselves its still January and halfway the season
name a single team that won an EPL trophy in february
Neoeorsyz
1
Arsenal don't care about opponents we go game by game
I love u
Vicacnpyz
0
They don't have it yet - its still open for any team to take... you can only celebrate trophies or titles that are in your cabinet not the ones you still nees to play for....
Which any team, it's only two teams that can win it and Arsenal is at an advantage
Vicacnpyz
0
Arsenal fans League title is not celebrated in January.... league title is celebrated in May... A lot of teans including Arsenal have been on top of the league in January but did not end up lifting the league title in May..... Don't get over yourselves its still January and halfway the season
It's February bro
Vicacnpyz
1
There are a lot of twists and turns, dramas yet to be seen ---- its still January even Newcastle is 3rd on the logo
it's February bro
subbdemr
0
Arsenal fans League title is not celebrated in January.... league title is celebrated in May... A lot of teans including Arsenal have been on top of the league in January but did not end up lifting the league title in May..... Don't get over yourselves its still January and halfway the season
is today still January for you huh? ooo wake up from your sleep na. can't you see city still have to play against Tottenham ARSENAL Newcastle while ARSENAL only have city as only big game in that period get some sense man
Evanskelly
6
Cityzen We can do it
Yuabcdmnty
2
There are a lot of twists and turns, dramas yet to be seen ---- its still January even Newcastle is 3rd on the logo
Yuabcdmnty
0
There's no way Arsenal is throwing away this title
They don't have it yet - its still open for any team to take... you can only celebrate trophies or titles that are in your cabinet not the ones you still nees to play for....
Jima2233
0
On game at a time. Go gooners 👌🏽😍😍😍
Yuabcdmnty
1
Arsenal fans League title is not celebrated in January.... league title is celebrated in May... A lot of teans including Arsenal have been on top of the league in January but did not end up lifting the league title in May..... Don't get over yourselves its still January and halfway the season
ClemJay
5
There's no way Arsenal is throwing away this title
Mecadeosuz
4
Arsenal don't care about opponents we go game by game
Fizbcnorsz
4
Arsenal doesn't care about league schedules.. As fan of Arsenal, we just want to be winning
Ciobikmpty
1
that's good cityzens 💙💙
Jecaens
0
manchester city to every opponents onwards
[image]
just like it has been from the beginning of the season and that's why city remain top of the table. I laugh in Chinese 🤣
noyadlstz
2
City don't care about the league schedule, It's all about winning
Alexchope
13
manchester city to every opponents onwards
Tmecch01
2
Wow