Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool’s next five games as Gunners open up huge gap in title race

Arsenal sit six points ahead of Manchester City and seven clear of Liverpool after what could end up being a weekend that defines this season’s Premier League title race

This weekend was a huge one for Arsenal and their hopes of winning the Premier League for the first time since 2004. The Gunners claimed a tense 1-0 win at home to Crystal Palace, with the result made that bit sweeter when they learned Manchester City had lost by the same scoreline away to Aston Villa.

Eberechi Eze scored the Gunners’ only goal to help down his former club. Another clean sheet means they have still conceded just three times all season and remain on track to post the best ever defensive record in a Premier League season.

City striker Erling Haaland saw his own scoring run come to an end at Villa Park. Matty Cash scored the only goal of the game, handing Villa a fourth straight league win and ensuring City end the weekend outside the top four thanks to Tottenham’s win at Everton later on Sunday afternoon.

Both Arsenal and City went into their games knowing they had a golden opportunity to gain ground on reigning champions Liverpool. Arne Slot’s team suffered a fourth straight league reverse, with Brentford claiming a 3-2 victory over an out-of-sorts Reds side.

The next five games could be crucial in shaping the title race as we pass the November international break and begin to approach a busy festive period. Here’s what’s in store for Arsenal, City and Liverpool during that period.

READ MORE: Mikel Arteta confirms Arsenal suffered FOUR injury blows in Crystal Palace victoryREAD MORE: Eberechi Eze shows his true character in Arsenal moment vs Crystal Palace

Arsenal

Burnley (a), Sunderland (a), Tottenham Hotspur (h), Chelsea (a), Brentford (h)

Arsenal begin November with a pair of away matches against newly-promoted sides. Neither will be a walk in the park, with Sunderland in particular impressing in their first season back in the big time.

The Gunners’ record in London derbies is impressive to say the least, but that will be firmly put to the test in the coming weeks. A North London derby will provide them with a tricky welcome back after the international break, before Mikel Arteta’s men end November away at Chelsea and kick off the following month at home to a Brentford side who showed against Liverpool that they can’t be underestimated.

Away from the Premier League, Arsenal will also be busy in the Carabao Cup and Champions League. A meeting with Bayern Munich in between those Spurs and Chelsea games could prove crucial.

Manchester City

Bournemouth (h), Liverpool (h), Newcastle (a), Leeds (h), Fulham (a)

City’s next two games are against their current competition for a top four spot, with Bournemouth sitting second as they prepare to welcome Pep Guardiola’s men to the south coast. The November 9 meeting with Liverpool is a stand-out fixture, with both teams hoping they’ll be back approaching their best by the time it rolls around.

A trip to Newcastle is rarely an easy fixture, with rivals Arsenal leaving it late to claim three points from their own trip to St James’ Park. Leeds at home and Fulham away are the simplest of City’s five fixtures if we’re going by the table alone, and they’ll hope to repeat the Craven Cottage win they picked up on the final day of last season.

There are tests in the cups amid all that, too. Both of City’s European games in the next month come at home to German opposition, with unbeaten Borussia Dortmund and Champions League strugglers Bayer Leverkusen visiting the Etihad Stadium.

Liverpool

Aston Villa (h), Manchester City (a), Nottingham Forest (h), West Ham (a), Sunderland (h)

Things might get harder for Liverpool before they get easier. Upcoming opponents Aston Villa have won their last four in the league, while City will be determined going into their meeting just before the international break.

Arne Slot’s side will fancy their chances in the two games after that, even if struggling Nottingham Forest and West Ham might have picked up a bit by then as new managers bed in. They’ll also hope Sunderland have tailed off after a fast start by the time they head to Anfield.

A Champions League meeting with Real Madrid comes just before the City game, which isn’t an ideal time for such a big test. The other upcoming European fixture sees PSV Eindhoven come to Merseyside after beating a heavily-rotated Reds side in last season’s competition.

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