MAN CITY: Arsenal’s closest rivals for the league title are the reigning champions, Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side are yet to play Arsenal and could quickly take six points from their title rivals without having to rely on Mikel Arteta’s men slipping up elsewhere.
PEP GUARDIOLA: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was Guardiola’s assistant before he took the Arsenal job in 2019 and remains in his master’s shadow. Pep’s City are still bookies favourites to win the title by May – mainly down to the managerial coaching genius of their Catalan coach – and make it a fifth Premier League in his reign.
TOP FOUR FORM: With the rise of Newcastle and upturn in-form of Manchester United, the traditional top four continues to evolve. Arsenal, going into the home game against United, had been able to pick up only one point against third and fourth-placed sides his season. It is a record they might need to improve.
GABRIEL JESUS: The summer signing slotted in perfectly into Arteta’s system before he sustained a serious injury at the World Cup. Jesus underwent surgery before the Premier League resumed after Qatar, but is not expected to be back in full action until early March at best.
RUN-IN: Arsenal lost only one of their first 18 games to hit the halfway mark as clear leaders. However, with five London derbies to play and four match-ups against the current top four still to come the second half is not likely to be an easy ride, meaning the Premier League title is still very much up for grabs.
