Arsenal next five fixtures compared to Liverpool and Man City after West Ham thrashing yesterday as Arteta Men set eyes on winning the trophy
Arsenal next five fixtures compared to Liverpool and Man City after West Ham thrashing yesterday as Arteta Men set eyes on winning the trophy
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In a thrilling display at the London Stadium, Arsenal wowed the crowds with an emphatic response to the victories of their rivals, Liverpool and Manchester City, on Saturday. Right from the start, the Gunners asserted their dominance, culminating in a scintillating 15-minute period just before halftime where they showcased their complete superiority.
The defensive prowess of the team shone through with goals from William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, solidifying their stronghold. Meanwhile, Bukayo Saka further stamped his mark on the game by calmly converting a penalty, marking his 50th goal for the club. The icing on the cake was Leandro Trossard’s exquisite curled finish just before the halftime whistle, adding an extra layer of brilliance to their performance.
For Arsenal, this victory maintains the status quo heading into the weekend, albeit with a significantly improved goal difference. Liverpool retains their position at the top following a commanding 3-1 win over Burnley at Anfield, while City briefly ascended to the summit with their own 2-0 triumph against Everton earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, Tottenham, considered outsiders in the title race, managed to keep their faint hopes alive by staging a remarkable comeback against Brighton. With the match seemingly destined for a draw, Brennan Johnson emerged as the hero, delivering a stunning 96th-minute winner to secure a crucial 2-1 victory for Spurs.
Arsenal and Mikel Arteta are now looking to contend on two fronts for the remainder of the season, with Champions League play on the horizon. The Gunners are about to enter a crucial era. Here’s how the next five league games will go.
Burnley (A) – Saturday, February 17
Arsenal will be heavy favourites to make it five league victories in a row when they visit Turf Moor next week. In a matchup between two of Pep Guardiola’s protégés, Arteta will be trying to outperform a struggling Vincent Kompany.
Burnley are currently second from bottom, with 13 points, and are falling more and further behind each week. They have only won one home game all season, against relegation-threatened Sheffield United. Arsenal’s recent road form has been poor, but there is little doubt that they will win this game.
Newcastle (H) – Saturday, February 24
Things get more difficult temporarily, particularly following the first leg of Arsenal’s Champions League last-16 match against Porto. Newcastle won the reverse meeting in a tense match at St James’ Park, which was marred by VAR controversy, but have since slipped.
Eddie Howe’s side is now ten points behind Aston Villa, leaving them outside the top six. They have recovered well from a difficult period between Christmas and New Year, winning three of their last four and drawing the other, but they are not the same sturdy team that had such defensive success last year.
Sheffield United (A) – Monday, March 4
Arsenal will have ten days to recover before facing the league’s poorest team this season, which is the ideal way to respond to a difficult week of European travel and high-pressure games. Chris Wilder’s arrival at Bramall Lane has made little impact to the Blades’ fortunes, and Arsenal will be in no mood to offer any glimmer of hope here.
Brentford (H) – Saturday, March 9
The turnaround for the following match, a visit from Ivan Toney, Thomas Frank, and Brentford, is substantially shorter. This is the type of banana skin Arsenal hopes to easily navigate. The Bees have only won two of their last 11 games in all competitions, but Toney’s return could help. He will be eager to show his argument to a team that is still heavily connected with a transfer for him.
Chelsea (H) – Saturday, March 16
In the final game before the international break, Mauricio Pochettino (for the time being) and the Blues will visit the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal have only lost two of their last 11 home games versus Chelsea, including a 3-1 defeat last year.
Pochettino’s team is an unpredictable force that stunned Arteta in the reverse fixture, controlling the game for 75 minutes at Stamford Bridge before a late collapse, but they have struggled away in recent months. Their midweek triumph over Villa was only their second in eight games away from Stamford Bridge. Arsenal will be eager to pour on the pressure in this game.
Liverpool next five fixtures
Brentford (A) – Saturday, February 17
Luton (H) – Wednesday, February 21
Nottingham Forest (A) – Saturday, March 2
Man City (H) – Saturday, March 9
Everton (A) – Saturday, March 16
Manchester City next five fixtures
Brentford (A) – Monday, February 5
Everton (H) – Saturday, February 10
