Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to five points yesterday with a 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. The victory topped off an important day for the Gunners as Manchester City's defeat to Brentford meant Mikel Arteta's men will be league leaders on Christmas Day.
After a tight opening 45 minutes, the north Londoners were by far the better team after the break and Martin Odegaard grabbed his fifth and sixth goal of the season from close range to lift Arsenal to 37 points.
The win, compounded with City's shock home defeat earlier in the day, means Arsenal will go into the World Cup break with a five point advantage after continuing their best ever start to a Premier League season.
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With a over a month until Arteta's side return to Premier League action, football.london has compared the north Londoners' next four games after the World Cup with their rivals.
West Ham (H) - December 26
Arsenal's first game back from the break provides them with a London derby against David Moyes' West Ham. Following the 2-0 home defeat to Leicester City, the Hammers sit one point above the relegation zone after struggling to replicate their form of the previous two seasons.
Arsenal have enjoyed plenty of success against West Ham in recent years with their last defeat coming in January 2019. However, you'd have to go back to August 2015 for the last time the Hammers won at the Emirates Stadium when Cheikhou Kouyate and Mauro Zarate handed Slaven Bilic's side a 2-0 victory.
Brighton (A) - December 31
The fixtures come thick and fast for Arteta's side and they face a 58-mile trip to the Amex Stadium on New Year's Eve to conclude an impressive 2022.
The fixture could see Arsenal ensure they go into the new year at the top of the table for the first time since 2016. Brighton have provided many banana skins for the Gunners in recent years, with the Seagulls dumping the Gunners out of the Carabao Cup last week.
Newcastle (H) - January 3
What a way to kickstart the New Year with a clash against the highly-flying Magpies. Newcastle have been in great form this season and this tie could have a huge say on the outcome on the race for top-four.
The clash will be the first time Arsenal face the Magpies since May's 2-0 defeat in St James' Park that ultimately put an end to their Champions League pursuit.
Tottenham (A) - January 14
Another huge and tough test follows for Arteta as they travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to face Spurs. Revenge from September's defeat will be on the forefront of Antonio Conte's mind after the Gunners swept their north London rivals away.
Like Newcastle last season, losing at Spurs last campaign was detrimental to their top four hopes. The game will strike off one of many difficult trips Arteta's side are set to face in 2023.
Manchester City's next four fixtures:
Leeds (A) - December 28
Everton (H) - December 31
Chelsea (A) - January 5
Manchester United (A) - January 14
Chelsea's next four fixtures:
Bournemouth (H) - December 27
Nottingham Forest (A) - January 1
Manchester City (H) - January 5
Crystal Palace (H) - January 14
Newcastle's next four fixtures:
Leicester City (A) - December 26
Leeds (H) - December 31
Arsenal (A) - January 3
Fulham (H) - January 14
Tottenham's next four fixtures:
Brentford (A) - December 26
Aston Villa (H) - January 1
Crystal Palace (A) - January 4
Arsenal (H) - January 14
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