Arsenal next five fixtures compared to Liverpool and Man city as Arteta failed to deliver at Emirate yesterday
Mikel Arteta mistakently stated that Arsenal are top of the Premier League after Thursday night’s agonising defeat at home to West Ham. The Gunners boss was then corrected by an Amazon Prime reporter, who delivered the bad news that Liverpool were in fact top of the tree heading into another round of fixtures on New Year’s Eve.
Arsenal had the chance to regain top spot with a win over the Hammers, who arrived at the Emirates Stadium off the back of a 2-0 victory at home to Manchester United. But Arteta’s men fluffed their lines under pressure from Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa.
Tomas Soucek notched the visitors’ opener inside a quarter of an hour, but there was more than a tinge of controversy surrounding whether or not Jarrod Bowen successfully kept the ball in play in the build-up. VAR found that there was not conclusive evidence to support overturning the referee’s decision, which was to award the goal.
There were no such queries around the second of the night, with Konstantinos Mavropanos heading in off the crossbar against his former team, sparking rampant celebrations in the away end.
Arsenal were unable to mount a dramatic late comeback, as they have done so often under Arteta. But the manager chose to look on the bright side after the final whistle – or so he thought – by incorrectly pointing out that his side were top of the table.
Fulham (A) – December 31
Arsenal end a wonderful 2023 with a Premier League clash against London rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage. Leandro Trossard was the star of the show in last season’s clash as he picked up three assists, although Fulham have been heavily among the goals this season, particularly at home.
However, Burnley shockingly picked up a 2-0 victory against the Cottagers this past weekend ending their run three consecutive home league wins.
Liverpool (H) – January 7 (FA Cup)
Just a few weeks on from their Premier League clash, Arsenal take on Liverpool once again but this time in FA Cup action. The Gunners were knocked out in the third round last season after being drawn against Manchester City with a 1-0 defeat at Etihad Stadium the final score.
While there was nothing between the two teams in late December, a winner must be determined and thus one of the favourites will be knocked out in the early stages.
Crystal Palace (H) – January 20
Due to the winter break, Arsenal’s first Premier League fixture of 2024 arrives well into the month of January. The Eagles have been in a poor run of form in recent months with no wins in their last seven games.
In the reverse fixture, a Martin Odegaard penalty sealed the victory with Takehiro Tomiyasu sent off in the clash that caused a nervy final period for Mikel Arteta and his players.
Nottingham Forest (A) – January 30
For their final clash of January, Arsenal head north for a clash against Nottingham Forest in a repeat of their Premier League opener. The Gunners saw their title charge from last season end at the City Ground courtesy of a 1-0 defeat, however a lot has changed since that clash.
Arteta has recruited significantly and he will instead face up to former Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo after Steve Cooper was sacked earlier this month.
Manchester City
Everton (A) – December 27
Sheffield United (H) – December 30
Huddersfield Town (H) – January 7 (FA Cup)
Newcastle (A) – January 13
Burnley (H) – January 30
Liverpool
Burnley (A) – December 26
Newcastle (H) – January 1
Arsenal (H) – January 7 (FA Cup)
Fulham (H) – January 10 (Carabao Cup)
Bournemouth (A) – January 21
