After a 3-1 home defeat to defending Premier League champions Manchester City, Arsenal's chances of claiming the 2022/23 league title suffered a serious below.
The result temporarily dropped Arsenal from their first-place perch and now the Gunners will have to work and tussle for every point to move back ahead of the pack.
Although Arsenal's hopes of winning the Premier League for the first time since 2004 are still in their own hands, City have some comfort in knowing that they were able to close the gap when they played them in the first of two league showdowns.
Arsenal also have a postponed match to fit in somewhere. When are the games happening and who else are the leaders still to play? Here's their schedule.
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When is Arsenal's game in hand?
Arsenal had been scheduled to host Everton in September before all Premier League games on the weekend of the match were called off following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The rearranged fixture is set to be played on Wednesday, March 1, jammed into a packed schedule that has been further complicated by the mid-season break for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in November and December.
The date is a midweek FA Cup fixture, but both clubs were previously eliminated from that competition. Everton exited the FA Cup courtesy of a 3-1 third-round defeat at Man United, and Arsenal were beaten 1-0 at City on January 27.
When do Arsenal play Man City next?
Arsenal's final match against City looms large following their loss to the Citizens at Emirates Stadium on February 15.
A second-half goal by Jack Grealish and a final dagger from Erling Haaland gave Man City a convincing 3-1 win on Arsenal's home turf, as they showed the swagger and personality of a defending Premier League champion.
The game at Emirates Stadium was postponed in October to make room for Arsenal's home match against PSV in the Europa League, which was rescheduled following the death of the Queen.
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There's still one more league showdown remaining on April 26. A potential for City to gain all six points on Arsenal by winning both head-to-head games is a key reason why many commentators still believe Manchester City are more likely to win the title.
Both sides' fixtures will inevitably play a crucial role in deciding who triumphs. Arsenal, for example, still have to visit high-flying Newcastle United, while City's final game is at Brentford, who beat them 2-1 at the Etihad in November with two Ivan Toney goals.
February 15, 2023
- Arsenal 1-3 Manchester City
April 26, 2023
- Man City vs. Arsenal at 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET (date and time subject to change)
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Arsenal's key fixtures left to play in 2022/23
April and May contain the most difficult fixtures for Arsenal on paper during the remainder of their season, with three of their games against particularly dangerous opponents coming away from home.
A tough-looking run of fixtures begins with a test against Liverpool at Anfield, where Arsenal have not won in the Premier League for more than 10 years.
Arsenal host Chelsea three days after visiting City, then go to Newcastle in their next game, when they will bid to avoid a repeat of their 2-0 defeat last season.
Mega-wealthy Newcastle have been by far the most improved team in the Premier League in 2022/23, aside from surprise title contenders Arsenal.
- Liverpool vs Arsenal – April 8
- Man City vs Arsenal – April 26
- Arsenal vs Chelsea – April 29
- Newcastle vs Arsenal – May 6
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Arsenal's historic Premier League points totals
Since English clubs began receiving three rather than two points for a win in 1981, Arsenal's lowest points total was 51 during the 1994/95 season.
Their win over Manchester United this season took them to 50 points, only six short of their joint-lowest ever tally at the end of the 2019/20 campaign, when Arteta had taken over midway through.
Their best ever total is 90, achieved in their unbeaten season of 2003/04 when their squad became known as 'The Invincibles'.
Arsenal retained the trophy they had won with three fewer points a year earlier during the glory days of iconic manager Arsene Wenger.
The top flight has been a 21-team division for much of Arsenal's history, giving them 42 games in which to achieve their totals.
Since the 1995/96 season, however, the Premier League has been reduced to 20 teams, giving them four fewer matches to play.
Here's how many points Arsenal have won in each of their title-winning seasons.
| Season | Points | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| 1930/31 | 66 | +7 |
| 1932/33 | 58 | +4 |
| 1933/34 | 59 | +3 |
| 1934/35 | 58 | +4 |
| 1937/38 | 52 | +1 |
| 1947/48 | 59 | +7 |
| 1952/53 | 54 | +0* |
| 1970/71 | 65 | +1 |
| 1988/89 | 76 | +0** |
| 1990/91 | 83 | +7 |
| 1997/98 | 78 | +1 |
| 2001/02 | 87 | +7 |
| 2003/04 | 90 | +11 |
* Won title on goal difference
** Won title on goals scored