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There are five big fixtures that could end up defining Arsenal's season as the title race and cup competitions reach their peak
Arsenal remain top of the Premier League with a five-point gap to their closest rivals, Manchester City, who have a game in hand. Ten games remain for the Gunners in the league while they remain in all of the Carabao Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League.
After beating Tottenham in the North London Derby, Arsenal have momentum again and look back on track following a recent wobble at Wolves and Brentford. They have navigated the season to this point, despite yet more injury problems rivalling those of last season, well.
However, of those remaining games, there are many potential pitfalls and banana skins that this Arsenal side could both slip up on or equally use to their ultimate benefit. With that said, football.london assesses the key outstanding matches between them and glorious silverware.
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Arsenal vs Chelsea
This weekend, Liam Rosenior will again bring his Chelsea side to Arsenal to face Mikel Arteta for the third time since his appointment in January. Both coaches have plenty of information now on the other and experience facing off against each other.
There is plenty on the line for both sides, and it is the first time since the week commencing December 15 that Arsenal have a midweek off and can have some genuine rest and preparation for the clash.
A win here, while Manchester City go to Leeds United, could be massive in the context of all four sides’ seasons.
Carabao Cup final
While not a league match, this could be the game which helps Arsenal end their near-six-year wait for a trophy. A first League Cup since the early 1990s and, perhaps most importantly, a major psychological blow to Manchester City.
City have won this tournament plenty and their manager knows all about winning it, but he is yet to beat Arteta when facing him at Wembley Stadium. Yet the biggest potential benefit is landing a blow on their respective opponent to unsettle them ahead of the final games of the Premier League title race in the biggest boost yet.
Manchester City vs Arsenal
In 2023/24, Arsenal travelled to Manchester City and earned a 0-0 draw, despite having a narrow lead at the top. It was seen as a good result at the time, but the subsequent defeat to Aston Villa would cost them the title, leaving regrets about not winning at their rivals.
This time around, therefore, the focus will be on Arsenal going for victory at the Etihad Stadium. City themselves know they can swing the title majorly in their favour by winning and could, for the first time in a long time, take the lead depending on when their match with Crystal Palace is rearranged.
West Ham vs Arsenal
One interesting point to note is that City currently have two more away trips than Arsenal in their remaining fixtures. However, one of the trickiest looks to be the Gunners’ hop across London to West Ham.
Declan Rice’s old club, and the antepenultimate match of the season. It could be Arsenal open up a gap large enough to even win it here, which Rice would surely enjoy, but that is getting somewhat ahead of ourselves.
The draw in 2023, which included a penalty kick miss from Bukayo Saka, was something of a turning point for the Gunners, who would see Man City reclaim their title yet again. Not to mention the defeat to the Hammers at the Emirates Stadium in 2025, too.
West Ham are scrapping for their lives at the bottom and will likely still be desperate for points then too. Arsenal have a big task toward the end of the season there.
The Champions League
Then comes the Champions League. Some fans might tell you that this competition is a preference over any domestic success, but not this season.
Arsenal simply must win the Premier League, and their European exploits will be a bonus. It is looking likely that it will be a German side, either Bayer Leverkusen or Borussia Dortmund, that the Gunners face in the last-16.
Beyond that, it could be Manchester City or Real Madrid in the quarter-finals. The potential of facing City four times in the space of a month remains a very real possibility.
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