Predicting Arsenal's winter run-in as Man City and Liverpool slip in Premier League title race

Arsenal have seven games between now and the end of the year – an eighth if you count the trip to Brentford on New Year’s Day. What is interesting about this run is that the Gunners will not leave London for any of the matches with either the clashes being played at the Emirates Stadium or an away fixture at a fellow capital club.

With the draw at Chelsea dropping two further points, it means Arsenal sit nine points behind leaders Liverpool and four behind Manchester City. This run will be perhaps the most-defining in Arsenal’s season and a successful streak could see them claw their way back into the running for the title.

With all the games for Arsenal being at home, and just two of the seven opponents in the top half of the table, there is a good chance for the Gunners to build a run. Realistically, the likelihood Arsenal win all their games based on their recent form wouldn’t necessarily appear to be in with a good chance of happening.

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That said, with Martin Odegaard back in the squad, Mikel Arteta is able to call on the majority of all his best players with hope Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu will be back soon too. Ben White’s new injury does create a limitation but there should be the depth in this period to cope.

With that in mind, Arsenal will of course be focusing on themselves but at the very minimum fans will be keeping a close eye on the opposition. Liverpool’s seven games contain some tricky away trips where the Gunners will hope they drop points.

Everton away in the Merseyside derby was a match the Reds dropped valuable points in last season to end their title hopes, while they must also go to St James’ Park to play Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to play Tottenham, with a December 29 test away at West Ham also an opportunity to drop points.

The big game lies on the first of the month however when Manchester City visit Anfield. This game will see one of the two sides at least drop some points that Arsenal need to make sure they take advantage of - a three-point swing for either team brings down the gap to Arsenal considerably but a draw would be the best outcome and so often has been when the pair meet.

City’s other games include a clash with bogey side Spurs, the Manchester derby in the Etihad Stadium, a trip to Villa Park where last season they were comfortably beaten while having to contend with a Champions League match with Juventus after a tricky test at Selhurst Park.

If Arsenal drop just four points from their next seven games they will be on 36 points at the end of New Year’s Day. City could realistically drop seven leaving them on 37 points by the start of 2025.

Liverpool, meanwhile, who have been in better form, could drop perhaps six, if we’re being optimistic which would see them sitting on 43. The gap to Arsenal still being seven but with half the season left to play and Arsenal having navigated the tougher away trips of the three by that point.