Assessing what lies ahead for Mikel Arteta's Arsenal 

Gooner Fanzine writer Nick Manfredi assesses Arsenal's fixtures ahead of what could be a momentous season for the Gunners 

How do we assess Arsenal’s title challenge based on what we have seen and what might be yet to come? 

We sit six points clear at the top having amassed 48 points from the first 60 available, having played most of the perceived trickiest away games.

We have visited Old Trafford, Anfield, St James’ Park, Villa Park and Stamford bridge. Manchester City are yet to visit three of those five grounds. They lost at the other two. City aside, our remaining away fixtures are all very winnable on paper.

Thursday’s showdown with Liverpool will be a stern test despite their poor first half of the campaign. But the majority of our toughest assignments will come at The Emirates, where we have dropped just two points all season. 

We also seem to be finally getting our players back from injuries.

Gabriel Jesus recently returned from almost a year out; Gabriel has recently returned from a month or so on the sidelines and Kai Havertz is on the brink.

We have managed the first half of the season without so many key players superbly but to have them back is a major boost.

City, who seem to have been mostly immune to injuries this season, have been struck with a major blow regarding their two best centre backs as Ruben Dias is set to miss the next six weeks with a hamstring injury whilst Josko Gvardiol is reported to be needing surgery for a “fractured tibula” which may well be a season ender for him.

Of course we do not wish injuries on any rival player, but this would represent a huge headache for Pep Guardiola and perhaps we will learn a lot about him as he attempts to deal with a lack of squad depth amid a title race for perhaps the first time in his managerial career.

Of course, City are almost certainly able to buy their way out of this problem as they have done so many times in the past. It has been reported that their interest in Marc Guehi has “accelerated” and we already know they are set to sign Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth in a bid to boost what is already the league’s most potent attack.

But we can be sure that Mikel Arteta and his advisors will remain calm and this will transmit to the players.

They will know how to conduct themselves at this crucial period of the season. It is testament to how well we have handled every obstacle that has come our way in the first half of the campaign that there is next to no clamour for new signings this month from the fan base.

That could change if we lose a game or two in the next few weeks but for now, all is well.

The calm before the storm perhaps, but we appear to be safe in the harbour for now. But what could derail our season?

It’s an unpleasant question and perhaps we will never have to find out but it’s worth analysing anyway. If anything, it could be our commitments to the other three competitions we are in. Saturday’s win at Bournemouth was the first of nine games we will play in the first month of 2026.

We have the first leg of our Carabao Cup tie with Chelsea (the return leg is not until the start of February), our bid to win a record extending 15th FA Cup begins at Portsmouth shortly after and we have the final two games of the Champions League league phase towards the end of the month.

The good news is we have a squad much better equipped to deal with fixture congestion than we’ve had in the past. We have already gone deep in the Carabao Cup largely because of this and you would expect us to do so in the other two competitions as well.

As far as this month is concerned, we can afford some level of rotation in the Champions League given our very strong position in that and you would expect us to have enough to eliminate Pompey even with Arteta ringing several changes.

Beyond that it will become a little more complicated, but we should have the manpower regardless.

So, what are our aspirations for the second half of the campaign? Winning the league remains the goal obviously and given the position we’ve put ourselves in failure to do so would represent an immense disappointment.

A fourth straight silver medal was not on any Gooner’s wish list to Santa this Christmas.

A cup would be a nice bonus, perhaps the Carabao given we have reached the semis and are expected to beat Chelsea over two legs.

A Wembley showdown with City in March would be very spicy indeed. I think we all know why. The FA Cup would be nice but either cup would do. Let’s not be too fussy here. And then we have the Champions League. the one that has eluded us for eternity.

It goes without saying that winning the Premier League for this first time in 22 years in the same season as finally getting our hands on the most prestigious trophy in club football would be glorious for too many reasons to mention.

Can we do it?

Well, many would have us down as favourites. You could make a fair argument for Arsenal being the best side in Europe right now. We are right up there with the Bayern’s and Real Madrid’s now and we have shown we are capable of not just beating but outclassing that calibre of opponent in recent months. 

Perhaps if we can continue to stretch our lead in the league, it will allow us to rest a couple of players ahead of crucial UCL knockout clashes with our fellow heavyweights as the likes of PSG are able to do.

What a fine luxury that would be! I think the quadruple is a tad unrealistic but then again, so was going invincible.

I remember there was a point in the 2010-11 season where that was on the cards only for us to collapse and fall out of contention for everything inside a month. But that Arsenal side was naff compared to this one.

I do think the double is well within our reach whether it be league and cup or league and UCL. But the common denominator is undoubtedly the league.

Get over that finish line above all else. Most of us expect us to win the league from this position and that is certainly what I believe will happen.

What ever else is meant for us will come in May or some point in the foreseeable future.

Let’s take it one game at a time starting with Liverpool on Thursday.

COYG!