Arsenal have a huge opportunity to land decisive blow in Premier League title race | OneFootball

Arsenal play before Premier League title rivals Man City this weekend

When Arsenal have found a door ajar in front of them, they have not always found it easy to walk through.

A week later, City lost in the Manchester derby. Again, Arsenal had the chance to take advantage, this time to go nine points clear and stamp their authority all over the title race.

Another goalless draw was all the Gunners could manage against Nottingham Forest, leaving Arsenal again left to rue what might have been.

Fast forward seven days and on this occasion City got the job done, beating Wolves. Arsenal, once more playing second, now had the pressure of responding to their main rivals closing the gap.

The Gunners faltered, losing to United, and their advantage at the top was cut to just four points.

In three of the last four matchdays, then, Arsenal have played after City and on each occasion they slipped up.

The good news for Arteta and his players is that their match at home to Sunderland this afternoon is not one of the television picks and gets a lesser-seen 3pm slot.

Arsenal have the chance to land the first punch this weekend, a position they have relished far more than trying to counter, and it could prove to be a decisive blow.

Should the Gunners beat Sunderland, who have won just two of their 12 away matches in the league this season, they will move nine points clear of City and potentially ten points ahead of Aston Villa.

Arsenal have not been able to capitalise on Man City dropping points in recent weeks

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

That could have huge significance, with City travelling to take on Liverpool on Sunday.

City have won only once at Anfield in the Premier League since 2003, and that came when there were no fans in attendance in 2021.

It is a trip they do not relish at the best of times, but having to make it knowing they trail Arsenal by nine points would crank up the pressure even further.

Speaking on Friday, Arteta insisted his belief that Arsenal can win the title has been in place since before a ball was kicked this season.

"Before the pre-season started," Arteta said.

"I started to prepare everything with the intention to be where we are and make sure the players are very convinced that we are going to achieve it and then go day by day."

Plenty now have that faith with him and the number of believers will only grow this weekend if Arsenal can put another three points on their lead over City.

I started to prepare everything with the intention to be where we are and make sure the players are very convinced that we are going to achieve it and then go day by day

Mikel Arteta

Villa remain on the scene too and victory over Bournemouth would ensure they stay within seven points of Arsenal at the most.

All logic, though, suggests that it is City who are the chief threat to Arsenal ending a 22-year wait for league glory this season.

The Gunners still have to travel to the Etihad in April but weekends like this one offer a real chance to take some of the pressure off that occasion by adding to their buffer.

Should Arsenal pick up all three points against Sunderland, it will not be the most memorable result come the end of the season.

However, it could prove to be one of the most significant.