Arsenal will wake up on Thursday morning off the top of the Premier League table for the first time since August after losing 3-1 to Manchester City.
The Gunners have led the way throughout the majority of the 2022/23 season and were once 11 points clear at the top of the table. However, a run of four games without a win has seen them drop down to the second - level on points with City.
Pep Guardiola's side went ahead through Kevin De Bruyne but Bukayo Saka levelled from the penalty spot. Second half strikes from Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland restored City's lead to take advantage in the title race.
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Wednesday's defeat was their third in four games and leaves Arsenal with a mammoth task of knocking City off top spot. The reigning champions have won four of the last five contested titles under Guardiola and have experience in coming out on top in battles for the Premier League.
In 2019, City pipped Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool to the title on the final day of the season as both sides surpassed 90 points. A similar story occurred last campaign, with Liverpool's 92 points coming up short, again, on the final day.
Since Guardiola's arrival in the Premier League in 2017, the Spaniard has dominated but is yet to lift the prestigious UEFA Champions League. It's expected that they will throw everything at winning the club's first ever European title since 1970 after last year's heartbreak at the Bernabeu.
The ball is now in Arsenal's court to respond and prove their doubters wrong, once again. Question marks remain over the depth of Arteta's squad compared to Man City, especially with Gabriel Jesus, Thomas Partey and Emile Smith Rowe out injured.
But, there is reason for optimism. The Gunners face only four of last season's top seven between now and the end of the season and won’t be greeted with further fixtures in the FA Cup - unlike Man City.
Arsenal and Arteta must react from Wednesday's defeat. A trip to face former manager Unai Emery's Aston Villa - who have lost their last two games - on Saturday is next before a trip to Leicester City. Two tricky away contests are followed by two home games against relegation-threatened Everton and Bournemouth.
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