Man City and Arsenal's fixtures given difficulty rating as one club gets easiest ending to season

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Arsenal currently lead the way in the fight for the Premier League title with the chasing Manchester City their last true competition

Arsenal have just seven league games left this season as they remain frontrunners for the Premier League title. Manchester City are still in the fight but face a tougher run of games.

Mikel Arteta's side have become accustomed to playing second fiddle in the top flight, finishing as runners-up in each of the last three campaigns. But this term, they have one hand on the trophy and are nine points clear at the summit.

Pep Guardiola's City are their only remaining rivals and they sit in second place with a game in hand. They bested the Gunners in the Carabao Cup final 2-0 to extinguish any hopes of an Arsenal quadruple.

Both sides will do battle once again during the Premier League run-in, but one faces an easier path to glory. The Manchester Evening News evaluates which of Arsenal and City have been handed the more difficult final few fixtures.

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If we use the Fixture Difficulty Rating (FDR) which Fantasy Premier League players utilise, it is clear which of the two title contenders has an easier end to the season. This rating ranges from 1 to 5, with the higher number indicating a more difficult game.

League leaders Arsenal host Bournemouth next and this clash holds an FDR of 3. Then, City away (5) is on the agenda. They then welcome Newcastle United (3) to the Emirates followed by another home match against Fulham (2).

The Gunners end their campaign with a trip to West Ham (2), a home fixture against Burnley (1) and a journey to Crystal Palace (3). City on the other hand, not only have an extra game to play but have been bestowed with tougher matches.

Guardiola's men return from the international break to visit Chelsea (4) and then host Arsenal (4). They later travel to Burnley (2) and Everton (3).

City will go on to host Brentford (3) before an away clash with Bournemouth (3) and a home battle with Aston Villa (3) and there is still the game against Palace (3) at the Etihad to be rearranged.

With City playing an extra match, we can look at the averages of these last fixtures and determine that they have a harder run-in. Arsenal's average FDR is 2.7, while City's is 3.1. Despite getting the better of their title rivals in the Carabao Cup, manager Guardiola does not think that trophy success will have any impact on the league scrap.

He said after victory at Wembley: "I would like to be nine points in front of Arsenal, but I don't know if I'd change a trophy to fight for the Premier League.

"I don't think it will have an impact, different competition and they will be more concerned when they come to the Etihad. That title will help us a lot for the [FA Cup] quarter-final against Liverpool at home with our people.

"Today all our side was fully Blue, I'm so happy being together and celebrating. Maybe it will help us for that game but the Premier League is in their hands, they punished us a lot."