Man City must brace for Arsenal advantage in Premier League title race

Manchester City are behind Arsenal in the Premier League title race and are unlikely to make the points up before they face each other

Arsenal's slips in the last fortnight have helped Manchester City's charge, but it was never going to be easy. A 4-1 win over Tottenham in the North London derby steadies Mike Arteta's side and puts more points on the board that the Blues will have to catch.

Recent results from the Gunners have meant that the title race is in the hands of two challengers with just under a third of the season remaining. Because they meet at the Etihad in April, if either team is able to win all of their remaining games they will be crowned champions.

Arsenal have the advantage though, and because of the schedule, are extremely likely to arrive in Manchester in six weeks as Premier League leaders still. While they dropped two points against Wolves, it was an extra game that has allowed them to build their lead to five points with victory over Spurs.

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There is a chance that City's home game with Palace that needs rearranging because of the Carabao Cup final is played before the Blues host Arsenal, but at the minute there is no date and it looks unlikely. With City's other commitments and an international break coming up, there are only four Premier League games in the schedule in the two months before Arsenal are at the Etihad.

In that time, City play Leeds away, Forest at home, West Ham away and Chelsea away. Arsenal are home to Chelsea next, then have Brighton away, Everton at home and Bournemouth away. The two clubs also meet in the Carabao Cup final, have at least one FA Cup match and at least two Champions League games.

That means that if the Blues are to have any hope of being top by the time they host Arsenal, they need to have taken at least six more points in the four games so are realistically expecting the league leaders to lose two of four. Unless City take at least two points more than Arsenal from the block of four, even a win over the Gunners may not be enough to see them going top of the table.

Such has been Arsenal's performance, and their advantage in playing one more game than City, it is just something that the Blues are going to have to be braced for. If they are to reach the Premier League summit, it is unlikely to be for at least another few months because of the way the fixtures have worked out.

That could give the impression that everything City are doing hasn't been enough to reach the top, but on the flipside it means they are unlikely to have too long where they are not in the same position: hunting Arsenal down. It should be easier to focus on themselves knowing that there is less change about.

Arsenal have more points on the board, but as long as City keep them close before welcoming them to Manchester there is no reason to fret.

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