Arsenal's next 4 league games are, Swansea and West Brom both away, Norwich at home then Crystal Palace away. Arsenal's points tally currently stands as the same as the last 3 teams on that list put together, These are all, "should win", games, handing Arsenal an opportunity of coming into their 10th game against Liverpool (at home) with 24 points banked from a possible 27.While you have to go back to Feb 2010 for the last time Arsenal beat Liverpool at the Emirates, Liverpool have shown their own vulnerabilities by being beaten at Anfield by Southampton, and given Arsenal's form of 1 loss in 15 in the league, (which by then should be 1 loss in 19), a home win looks a distinct possibility.
Of their rivals, Manchester United languish 5 points behind, but also have 5 winnable games until Arsenal come calling, Were Arsenal to beat them, 8 points would be a healthy gap indeed. Lose, and 2 points in front is still a decent return compared to last year's league champions.
Chelsea and Tottenham however, sit somewhat closer, Spurs only being behind the Gunners by goal difference after they snuck a last minute win against Cardiff on the weekend. Handy then, that they should face each other this Saturday. Something has to give. Spurs also have a tricky away game at Everton the same day Liverpool visit Arsenal. Merseyside teams could be instrumental in a series of events that put Arsenal 6 ahead of Spurs, going into the aforementioned Manchester United game.
Speaking of Chelsea, they also have to face Manchester City at the Bridge before Arsenal's encounter with Liverpool. Both teams sit 2 points behind Arsenal at the moment, but obviously have difficult games ahead. City themselves have an awkward league game with the visit of Everton, not to mention two extremely difficult European games (Bayern at Manchester, and an away trip to Moscow just days before the Chelsea encounter), to look forward to.
The permutations are endless, but, as long as Arsenal win their next four games, they could go into the Liverpool match knowing that, beat them, and even a loss away against Manchester United the game after. might well still keep them on top of the table. Given it's likely there will be at least one surprise result thrown into the mixer as well, this is Arsenal's chance to stamp a real marker down denoting they're genuine challengers this year for the league. Also, it will help negotiations for the recruitment in January of what is expected to be another marquee signing after Ozil's arrival in the summer.
Arsene Wenger must see all this, and I would not be surprised to see him sacrifice some Champions League form in order to push forward the exceptional opportunity his team have of an all out assault on the title.
Source: DSG
