The longing continues for Premier League football to return after it was ripped away from those following Arsenal’s exciting campaign. Five points clear of Manchester City in second with the promise of a prosperous January transfer window to come, perhaps the winter months could be even better after the realisation of their main rivals’ schedule.
Manchester City will return to action sooner than Arsenal as they beat Chelsea in the Carabao Cup third round only to be drawn against Liverpool in the fourth set to be played on December 22. Arsenal, meanwhile, have an extended break after a number of mind-season friendlies before playing West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium on Boxing Day.
Should City progress past their modern-day rivals, suddenly their January and start of February schedule could become seriously hectic. Arsenal will travel to Brighton on new Year’s Eve with City hosting Everton.
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Then January begins and Man City face the prospect of eight games in a month, on the condition they reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals. However, it is their opponents who are of real intrigue.
City travel to Chelsea on January 5, before hosting the same opponents in the FA Cup third round the following weekend. They then travel across the city to Old Trafford the following weekend but could see a Carabao Cup fifth-round tie slotted in beforehand.
After playing Manchester United, they have a midweek game against a Tottenham side on January 19 who have a strange knack for beating them. Wolves under new head coach Julen Lopetegui are next at the Etihad Stadium on January 22.
If they make it to the two-legged semi-final of the Carabao Cup the first leg is due to be played on January 25, sandwiching the FA Cup fourth round should they beat Chelsea, before the second leg on February 1; not to mention the reverse league fixture against Spurs following just three days later (prior to any rescheduling due to television).
Arsenal, meanwhile, drew Oxford United in the FA Cup third round providing a great opportunity to rotate. Having lost to Brighton in the Carabao Cup third round, the Gunners need not worry about any further fixtures this winter and can focus on tackling their Premier League games against Newcastle, Tottenham and Manchester United.
Come the start of February, the league table could look very different. If the fixtures pile up for City and Arsenal can overcome their tricky winter league challenges, before their rescheduled match against their title rivals arrives on February 15, their lead at the top could have been extended; not that I am an extreme optimist in any way shape or form.
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