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Arsenal’s official fixture list has been announced by the Premier League, and some tough challenges lie ahead for the Gunners.
August
The curtain-raiser is away at Selhurst park, continuing a trend in recent seasons of difficult opening games of the season for the Gunners. After that initial cauldron of fire, the August fixtures are far more presentable to Mikel Arteta’s side.
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Crystal Palace v. Arsenal
Arsenal v Leicester City
A.FC. Bournemouth v Arsenal
Arsenal v Fulham
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Arsenal v Aston Villa
September
The second month of the season only sees three fixtures for Arsenal, however, in that is two away fixtures, including a journey to Erik Ten Haag’s Manchester United.
Manchester United v Arsenal
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Arsenal v Everton
Brentford v Arsenal
October
The month of Halloween lives up to its billing for the Gunners, with matches against fierce rivals Tottenham, as well as the visits to the runaway duopoly at the top of the pile last season, Manchester City and Liverpool.
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Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur
Arsenal v Liverpool
Leeds United v Arsenal
Arsenal v Manchester City
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Southampton V Arsenal
Arsenal v Nottingham Forest
November
As the World Cup approaches, there is a down-turn in the number of fixtures, only two scheduled to play in November, but two tough fixtures nonetheless, including the visit of London powerhouse Chelsea.
Chelsea v Arsenal
Wolverhampton V Arsenal
December
Premier League football doesn’t resume then until Boxing Day, although speculation has been apparent that senior officials in the league are considering alterations to the intensity of the Christmas schedule considering the onset of fatigue from the World Cup. As things stands, the Gunners have two league fixtures in December:
Arsenal v West Ham United
Brighton v Arsenal
January
Footballing normality resumes at the turn of the year, and the new year greets Arsenal with colossal battles, most notably a chance of revenge, as they are set to battle Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
Arsenal v Newcastle United
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal
Arsenal v Manchester United
February
The second month of the year will see the return of European knockout football, which the Gunners will expect to have qualified for. Alongside the potential European match ups are four league fixtures, which will force Arsenal around the country, playing on their home turf just once.
Everton V Arsenal
Arsenal v Brentford
Aston Villa v Arsenal
Leicester City v Arsenal
March
If the Gunners are still competing on multiple fronts come March, then they will be thankful for March, with two home games scheduled, and two of the three games against newly promoted opposition.
Arsenal v A.F.C. Bournemouth
Fulham V Arsenal
Arsenal v Crystal Palace
April
As Arteta’s side head into business end of the season, their resolve and competitiveness against the top sides will be tested, facing three of last season’s top four, with the top two being away from home.
Arsenal v Leeds United
Liverpool v Arsenal
West Ham United v Arsenal
Arsenal v Southampton
Manchester City v Arsenal
Arsenal v Chelsea
May
Into the final month of the season, four fixtures lay in front of the Gunners, a set of fixtures that those at London Colney will hope will solidify their hunt for Champions League football. The toughest fixture appears Newcastle away, a fixture that derailed all hope last season, a result Arteta will hope to repeat.
Newcastle United v Arsenal
Arsenal v Brighton
Nottingham Forest V Arsenal
Arsenal v Wolverhampton
Ultimately, Arsenal will play everyone twice, and if they want to secure Champions League football, the fixture list shouldn’t be the deciding factor. That said, in a season looking increasingly impacted by a winter World Cup, the brutal fixtures of October and April by all accounts seem crucial.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League