Given that the Premier League season stretches over 38 games, it may seem hyperbolic to suggest that the title can be won or lost during the first few months.

However, as Liverpool demonstrated last term, grabbing an early advantage can make it difficult for the chasing pack to recover the points deficit as the campaign progresses.

Arne Slot’s moved top of the table on Matchday 6 in 2024/25, before briefly relinquishing the position after the ninth round of matches.

They regained the lead the following week and stayed there for the rest of the season. Arsenal will be desperate to prevent the same thing happening this time around.

After embarking on a €1 billion spending spree since Mikel Arteta was appointed manager, expectations are understandably high at the Emirates Stadium.

Arteta has lifted just one major trophy with the Gunners, but now has a squad in place which should be capable of regularly winning silverware.

As highlighted in Arsenal’s 2025/26 season preview, the early part of the campaign could determine how they fare in the Premier League title race.

They made a solid start to the season last weekend, digging deep to secure a 1-0 victory at Manchester United courtesy of Riccardo Califiori’s header.

Arteta’s side withstood plenty of pressure from the home side, but held on to get their title challenge off to the perfect start at Old Trafford.

While Arteta acknowledged that his team were not quite at their best, winning games when you have not played well is a good habit to get into.

Having secured a positive result on the opening weekend, Arsenal will be eager to build some momentum over the next couple of months.

Based on their upcoming schedule, it is not unreasonable to think that the next ten fixtures will be crucial to their hopes of mounting a sustained title challenge.

The Gunners welcome newly-promoted Leeds United to the Emirates this weekend and are the favourites to get another victory under their belts.

However, Leeds showed plenty of determination to defeat Everton 1-0 on Monday night and it would be foolish to think the result is a foregone conclusion.

Arsenal finish August with a blockbuster trip to Liverpool and will be desperate to avoid handing them an early advantage in the title race.

A home game against Nottingham Forest is next on the agenda and they also have the ability to make life difficult for the Gunners.

Manchester City visit the Emirates the following week for a fixture which further hammers home the difficult nature of Arsenal’s early season schedule.

Matchday 6 is a tricky trip to the north-east to face Newcastle United, before things seemingly get slightly easier on paper during October.

Games against West Ham United (H), Fulham (A) and Crystal Palace (H) all look winnable and should produce a healthy points return if Arsenal are at their best.

Delving deeper shows why the Gunners cannot take anything for granted. The same fixtures yielded just two points last term, and they cannot afford to be as wasteful this season.

Away games against newly-promoted sides Burnley and Sunderland complete a ten-game stretch which could make or break Arsenal’s title challenge.

Burnley were dreadful in their season opener against Tottenham Hotspur and should not trouble the Gunners at Turf Moor.

By contrast, Sunderland’s new-look team demolished West Ham at the Stadium of Light and have been tipped to keep themselves afloat in the Premier League this term.

Navigating their way to the international break in November without suffering too many mishaps is undoubtedly essential if Arsenal want to break their title drought.