Mikel Arteta given six-point Arsenal threshold to save season after Chelsea draw hits title hope

Arsenal saw their title hopes fade that little bit more where for many they have almost entirely, if not completely, gone. The draw at Chelsea provided hope, but saw that shattered when Pedro Neto slammed in a 70th-minute equaliser.

It was a game which would for many decide Arsenal's title chances. The defeat suffered by Manchester City and the victory of league leaders Liverpool on heightened that reality and the expectations again were raised.

It was evident from Mikel Arteta’s line-up that he was more than aware of the importance of the game. Both Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard starting the match was maybe to many inevitable, but there were late calls made on both.

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Now Arsenal enter an international break and will return for a festive period in which they leave the capital just once before the turn of the year. It is indeed an opportunity few sides ever experience, and the frustrations and difficulties of the start of their season need to be overcome in these weeks.

As mentioned, some feel that the hope is done; but these forthcoming weeks when domestic action returns bring hope. Arsenal solitary trip out of London before the turn of the year is a Champions League clash in Lisbon to face Viktor Gyokeres and Sporting CP - though they have just lost manager Ruben Amorim.

By this time last year, Arsenal had dropped nine points. They would drop 11 more before the turn of the year with defeats to Aston Villa, West Ham and Fulham while drawing at Anfield.

20 points dropped before the year ends gives Mikel Arteta a reality and perhaps even a hope to regain faith from the fans with the opportunity that lies ahead. 14 points have been dropped in total to this point, meaning that should Arsenal find a way to go on a run until the end of the year, it could spell a very different outlook on their season.

The upcoming matches see home games against Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, Everton and Ipswich Town. They must travel to other London clubs West Ham and Fulham before a trip to Brentford on New Year's Day.

With Odegaard back, hope that Riccardo Calafiori should return after the break too and the encouragement that can come with reaching a Carabao Cup semi-final should they dispatch Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal will indeed be looking in a very different sphere of optimism.

This is of course wildly optimistic in itself, and dropping just six points in seven games after seeing 10 go down the drain in the last four would take one hell of a turnaround. Yet we know this side is capable of it, especially considering their end-of-season run during the previous campaign.