Key Arsenal 2024/25 Premier League fixtures as Champions League change worsens title chances

Arsenal only narrowly missed out on the Premier League title last season as Manchester City pipped Mikel Arteta’s side to the trophy by just two points. With a new campaign closing in, plans are underway regarding how the Gunners can overhaul Pep Guardiola in what could be his final season.

The Premier League fixture announcement provides the basis for plans and a roadmap of how a title could be won. football.london has already provided an overview of every fixture in order as the Gunners target another improved season.

However, some key dates, games and groupings provide a challenging reality for Arsenal. From the title clashes with Manchester City to the impact of the Champions League, we take a look at what the season is throwing up for us well ahead of any ball being kicked.

A tough start

While there was perhaps a moment of relief to see a home clash with Wolves kick off Arsenal’s season, as soon as you look beyond the visit of Gary O’Neil’s side things change quickly. The trips to Aston Villa, Tottenham and Man City all come within the first five games.

Although this will likely be seen as something of a nightmare by many, the reality could indeed prove to be very different for Arsenal. Should Mikel Arteta navigate these games successfully, it would provide no better foundation for a third title challenge especially should they record a result against Pep Guardiola’s side.

A 0-0 draw at the Etihad Stadium last season proved to be the two-point difference which would hand City the league. Should Arsenal want to win it this time around, a win should certainly be the aim in addition to reversing the result at Villa Park from the difficult festive period last year.

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Champions League expansion

The dates for the revamped and expanded Champions League first stage are known meaning that the Gunners will face a tricky European test between their trips to Tottenham and Man City with further interruptions to the domestic campaign creating a serious challenge. The second of eight falls between home matches with Leicester City and Southampton.

The third lies between a trip to Bournemouth and then the hosting of Arne Slot’s Liverpool. The fourth is again sandwiched between two tricky away matches with Newcastle and Chelsea.

Fifth is between the hosting of Nottingham Forest and the London derby in the east of the city with West Ham. Matchday six will take place after a visit to Fulham and before Everton arrive at the Emirates Stadium.

The additional two fixtures to the tournament’s first stage take place in the new year with matchday seven following the visit of Unai Emery and Villa and before a drive up to Molineux to face Wolves in another reverse fixture. Lastly, the final game of the first stage and a potentially decisive clash as to whether Arsenal finish in the top eight earning immediate progression to the last-16 follows the immediate week after the visit to Wolves and before an almighty meeting with Manchester City in north London.

A Christmas miracle

One thing which Arsenal fans in particular look for is their travel plans over hectic periods such as the festive season. Last year, Arsenal went to Aston Villa and Liverpool where they dropped points in both games.

This time around things are different. Besides a trip to Wolves at the end of January, the other nine games are being played either at home (Manchester United, Everton, Ipswich Town, Tottenham and Aston Villa), at other London sides (Fulham, Crystal Palace and Brentford) or a short hop to the south coast to face Brighton on January 4.

For both the club and its supporters this will come as a relief. However, it is worth pointing out that an FA Cup third-round tie is yet to be scheduled and should the Gunners progress through the League Cup there could be additional trips in both December and January to contend with in addition to three Champions League games across the two months.

The run-in

Bad news first, Arsenal’s final three matches include a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool, the arrival of Newcastle United and then a final day away clash on the south coast with a Southampton side who could be in something of a relegation battle after their recent promotion. These do not look like the best games to conclude a title challenge however, look before these three and an opportunity emerges.

After Arsenal travel to Old Trafford on March 8 and host Chelsea the following weekend, they have six games which many would look at as very favourable. Fulham (H), Everton (A), Brentford (H), Ipswich (A), Crystal Palace (H) and Bournemouth (H).

It is a run-in which the club would have preferred much more this season as they saw Man City have a relatively comfortable end to their campaign. The frustration is City’s last seven games are even easier: Crystal Palace (H), Everton (A), Aston Villa (H), Wolves (H), Southampton (A), Bournemouth (H) and Fulham (A).

Arsenal need to get the job done early, pick up the big points against their rivals and have a near-perfect campaign. These are the expectations and going off Arteta’s final day words from last season, no one at the club is satisfied with what they have got so far.