Arsenal are hurtling towards the conclusion of a season that has the potential to be glorious and gutting by the end of May.
The performance of Mikel Arteta’s side against Liverpool on Sunday swung from both extremes; taking a commanding 2-0 lead before clinging desperately to a point by the final whistle.
Dumped out of both domestic cup competitions before the fourth round, Arsenal bowed out of the Europa League in the round of 16, shifting the blinding spotlight squarely onto the search for a first Premier League title in 19 long years.
With the finishing line lurking just beyond the horizon, here’s what awaits Arsenal in the next six games.
Just as David Moyes threatened to add his name to the ballooning list of managerial departures this season, West Ham have belatedly discovered a whisper of form.
The Hammers go into a meeting with the league leaders on the back of ten points from their last six games. While it offers some hope, the east London outfit have lost by four clear goals to Brighton and Newcastle in this sequence. It remains to be seen how long Moyes would survive if Arsenal also inflict a hefty defeat.
Southampton may have stubbornly taken points off Arsenal at St Mary’s in autumn but the Saints will have to overcome a dire away record against the Gunners to get anything in the upcoming return fixture.
Arsenal have never lost a Premier League match at home to Southampton, last tasting defeat when the top flight was still known as the First Division and a single Danny Wallace goal earned the Highbury visitors three points in 1987.
Pep Guardiola has been keen to downplay his role in Mikel Arteta’s development as a coach. “I teach him a few things,” Guardiola conceded, “but this comes from himself, his mum and dad, his character and that was already there.”
Nevertheless, the influence of Guardiola’s positional play is splashed all over Arsenal’s fluid style. Although, borrowing some ideas hasn’t helped Arteta get one over his former employers thus far – Arsenal have lost all five Premier League meetings with Manchester City since Arteta’s appointment.
In an ill-advised pre-match advert before Arsenal’s previous meeting with Chelsea this season, the former club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang said: “Arsenal, nothing personal. I’m back, I’m blue, I’m ready. Let’s go.”
Aubameyang ended the match with more fouls committed (two) than shots (one) and mustered eight touches in an hour as Chelsea meekly lost 1-0. After being frozen out by Graham Potter, Frank Lampard may offer a route back into the team for Aubameyang – although, Arsenal probably wouldn’t fear his return all too much.
Arsenal’s dreams of Champions League football were ruthlessly extinguished by Newcastle on their most recent trip to St James’ Park at the backend of last season.
Given the ebullient form Eddie Howe’s side have rediscovered following their post-World Cup wobble, there is a potent risk of Arsenal’s title aspirations suffering a similar, soul-crushing fate on Tyneside this year.
In the inconceivable event that Arteta opts to leave Arsenal, the powers that be in north London have reportedly lined up Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi a potential replacement.
After inspiring the Seagulls to an enthralling style of football which has earned a glut of points and even more plaudits, Arsenal will not be the only club keeping tabs on De Zerbi. While the Italian tactician undoubtedly boosted his stock at the Emirates by warring with Tottenham’s coaching staff, he could dent their Premier League hopes when he leads Brighton to the Emirates in mid May.
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