Why Christmas presents Arsenal with biggest chance to cement title status | OneFootball

Tricky tests could see Gunners falter over festive period... or emerge stronger than ever

Until the moment the title race is over, the search for evidence will be relentless.

By the time Mikel Arteta and his players come up for air on the other side of the festive period, a more compelling case will be able to be made either way.

Arsenal host Brighton, Aston Villa and Liverpool and travel to Bournemouth in the space of 12 days.

A 3-0 Brighton win in north London stomped all over Arsenal's title hopes in the 2022-23 campaign

In those corresponding fixtures last season, the Gunners picked up a total of three points from a possible 12, losing to Bournemouth and drawing the three home matches.

A repeat of that this season would surely mean Manchester City sitting pretty at the top of the table moving into the second half of the campaign, where they so often find another gear.

On the flip side, if Arsenal can tick those fixtures off with something between nine and maximum points, faith in the title favourites will only strengthen.

The typically hectic Christmas schedule should benefit Arsenal as much as anyone in the league, considering the depth available to Arteta.

If Riccardo Calafiori needs a rest, Myles Lewis-Skelly comes in. Eberechi Eze and Martin Odegaard are both elite options. Noni Madueke is as strong a competition for Bukayo Saka as Arsenal could wish to have.

Mikel Arteta will know how crucial the festive schedule is

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

With Kai Havertz and Gabriel both nearing returns, too, this is the time of the year for Arsenal to flex their muscles.

That starts at home to Brighton on December 27. Arsenal beat the Seagulls in the Carabao Cup earlier this season, but it has not always been a happy fixture.

A 3-0 Brighton win in north London stomped all over Arsenal's title hopes in the 2022-23 campaign. Earlier that season, Brighton had dumped Arsenal out of the Carabao Cup.

Last season, the two sides drew 1-1 at the Emirates after Declan Rice was shown a controversial red card.

After Brighton comes Aston Villa on December 30, and with it surely Arsenal's toughest test of the Christmas period.

Villa sit just three points behind Arsenal in the table and are on a ten-match winning run in all competitions.

In the 2023-24 season, Arsenal lost 2-0 at home to Aston Villa... and lost the title by two points

Unai Emery has seemingly relished every chance to get one over his former club and Villa snatched all three points with a 95th-minute Emi Buendia winner in December.

In the 2023-24 season, Arsenal went on a remarkable run and won 16 of their last 18 Premier League matches. The only dropped points were a goalless draw with Manchester City and a 2-0 defeat at home to Villa - Arsenal lost the title by two points.

The Gunners were 2-0 up at home to Villa last season and were still frustrated, as Emery's side came back to earn a draw.

Arsenal have won only one of their last five matches against Villa. As clues in the search for proof that the Gunners are ready to go the distance this season go, victory over Villa would be a significant one.

The difficulty of a trip to Bournemouth will depend largely on what has happened in the week before.

If Arsenal have beaten Brighton and Villa, they will be confident of seeing off the Cherries and getting revenge for last season's defeat, in which William Saliba was shown an early red card.

Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice will again be key to Arsenal’s hopes

Action Images via Reuters

The festive set then concludes at home to Liverpool, who did their best to throw away a lead against Tottenham with a two-man advantage and continue to look unconvincing.

However, Arsenal lost at Anfield in August, and a confident win over the champions would still be a statement.

There can be a temptation to put too much significance on every touch and kick in the title race. At times it has felt like Arsenal have done that themselves, playing with a tension more fitting for April than the first half of the season.

The festive period, though, offers the chance for big gains and even bigger conclusions to be drawn. Arsenal must present their case well.