Arsenal's Final Seven Games: Ranking the Banana Skins in Their Title Push

Arsenal sit atop the Premier League with seven matches left to play and a nine-point cushion over Manchester City. Comfortable? Perhaps. Until you factor in City's game in hand and the small matter of these two heavyweights still having to face one another.

The Gunners have already stumbled this season—humbled by Southampton in the FA Cup and battered in the Carabao Cup final. So while their remaining fixtures look manageable on paper, there are definitely some potential stumbling blocks lurking. Let's examine each one, from straightforward to properly tricky.

7) Arsenal v Burnley (May 17)

By the time this final home fixture rolls around, the title may already be settled. Should Arsenal win all their remaining games, they could be celebrating as champions when Burnley visit. The Clarets are battling relegation and pose minimal threat—they'll likely be gone by May anyway. Arsenal cruised to a 2-0 win in the reverse fixture, and Arteta's record against Burnley is formidable, with just a single defeat in over five years.

6) Crystal Palace v Arsenal (May 24)

If the job isn't done by then, the title race goes to the wire. An away trip to Selhurst Park is Arsenal's final assignment. Palace have managed just one victory over Arteta's Arsenal since 2022, though recent encounters have been tight affairs. The teams needed a penalty shootout in the EFL Cup earlier this campaign, and drew last April—a result that preceded Liverpool's coronation by days. Final-day jitters can twist any narrative, but Arsenal should have it wrapped up by then.

5) Arsenal v Bournemouth (April 11)

Sandwiched between Champions League quarter-final legs against Sporting, this weekend's clash presents a genuine test. Bournemouth snatched a lead in January before Arsenal turned it around to win 3-2, yet last season the Cherries took both points off the Gunners. Crucially, Andoni Iraola's outfit remain unbeaten since the reverse fixture. While Arteta typically dominates this fixture, Bournemouth have bloodied the noses of Manchester United, Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Liverpool this term. They're not soft touches.

4) Arsenal v Fulham (May 2)

Arsenal's penultimate home game falls between potential Champions League semi-final legs—a scheduling headache. Fulham have lost only once to Arsenal under Arteta, but these fixtures have been decided by single goals for three years running. The Cottagers may have nothing left to play for by May, yet that unpredictability could prove costly if Arsenal's focus drifts toward European commitments.

3) Arsenal v Newcastle United (April 25)

Newcastle have the wood on Arsenal, claiming five victories during Arteta's tenure. September's encounter required an 84th-minute Mikel Merino leveller and a 96th-minute Gabriel Magalhaes winner to seal it. While Newcastle's season has petered out, they retain the capacity to cause havoc on their day and could spring a surprise if they arrive at the Emirates with intent.

2) West Ham United v Arsenal (May 9)

Should Arsenal dispatch their next four opponents—including City, assuming the challengers stay competitive—a draw at the London Stadium could put the title beyond reach. But West Ham are fighting for their Premier League lives in genuine earnest, far more credibly than Burnley. The atmosphere at the Stadium could be febrile. That said, Arsenal have put the ball in the net freely during recent visits.

1) Manchester City v Arsenal (April 19)

Here we go. This is the match that matters. City are Arsenal's sole legitimate rivals and the one team Arteta struggles against most—nine defeats across his managerial career, including the Carabao Cup final. Yet City's margin for error has evaporated. The Etihad will crackle with tension in what amounts to the title decider. Everything hinges on this one.