Arsenal and Manchester City Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup fixtures as title race reaches its climax

Arsenal and Manchester City are battling it out at the top of the Premier League but what are each team’s run-ins like?

The pair face each other in a title-race six-pointer on April 26 at the Etihad Stadium. However, before that encounter, Arsenal have two Premier League fixtures – West Ham away and Southampton at home – while City, given their continued participation in the Champions League and FA Cup only have one Premier League match, against Leicester City.

If matches go to form, Mikel Arteta’s side could have a nine-point lead with the potential to extend it to 12 with a win.

Guardiola’s side have the experience here, having won four of the last five Premier League titles, but their chase of Arsenal is complicated by upcoming Champions League and FA Cup ties.

Here are all the remaining fixtures for both clubs.

Here are just the Premier League fixtures:

Arsenal:

• Sunday April 16: West Ham, The London Stadium
• Friday April 21: Southampton, The Emirates
• Wednesday April 26: Man City, Etihad
• Saturday April 29: Chelsea, The Emirates
• Sunday May 7: Newcastle, St. James’ Park
• Sunday May 14: Brighton, The Emirates
• Saturday May 20: Nottingham Forest, City Ground
• Sunday May 28: Wolves, The Emirates

Man City:

• Saturday April 15: Leicester City, Etihad
• Wednesday April 26: Arsenal, Etihad
• Sunday April 30: Fulham, Craven Cottage
• Wednesday May 3: West Ham, Etihad
• Sunday May 7: Leeds United, Etihad
• Sunday May 14: Everton, Goodison Park
• Saturday May 20: Chelsea, Etihad
• Sunday May 28 : Brentford, Gtech Community Stadium
• TBC: Brighton, The Amex

THE NUMBERS THAT WILL DEFINE THE TITLE

* the Arsenal-Man City fixture on April 26 means it is impossible for both sides to hit their maximum haul

** the 3.4 figure factors in City making the Champions League semi-finals and the figure of 3.9 excludes these matches. The FA Cup final and Champions League final have been excluded from any calculations as they fall outside the Premier League season. Calculations made from April 11 to May 28.

• The run-in seems to favour Arsenal. They have fewer games and larger gaps between games.
• From April 11 until the end of the season, Arsenal have eight matches. On average, they have just under a six-day gap between their matches.
• If City make the Champions League semi-finals, they will have a game on average every 3.4 days. Should they be knocked out by Bayern Munich, they will have a match every 3.9 days on average.

While Arsenal hold the advantage in terms of number of fixtures played and games to play, City – inarguably – have a deeper squad.

The crucial game is the Premier League fixture between the two on April 26. Arsenal will have played 32 games by then and City will have completed 30. Should they both win their games ahead of that fixture, Arsenal could be sitting on a nine-point lead. Should they win that showdown, they would hold a 12-point lead with just five league games remaining for the Gunners. City would have seven remaining.

The injury situation

Man City currently have one player out injured: Phil Foden. He is due to return to action on April 19.

Arsenal currently have four players out injured. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohamed Elneny (both knee) have been ruled out for the rest of the season. Edward Nketiah (ankle) is expected to return on April 21 while William Saliba (lower back) edging towards full fitness and could be in contention for a return to action against West Ham.