Manchester City’s fixtures assessed - When and where Arsenal can regain title race edge

Arsenal no longer control their destiny in the Premier League title race. Their defeat to Aston Villa allowed Manchester City to build a two-point lead at the top and the Gunners will have to rely on Pep Guardiola’s side dropping points to have a chance of winning the title.

Arsenal have plenty of tough tests still to come themselves, including trips to rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. However, the weekend proved that the title race does not always go as expected, with Liverpool also losing at home to Crystal Palace.

To gain maximum points and maintain top spot until the end of the season, Man City would require a nine-game winning run in the league; a feat that Guardiola’s side have not managed so far this term. While Arsenal fans are reeling from the team’s setback, several games could cause Man City problems and hand the Gunners a vital boost in the title race. Here is a closer look at Man City’s toughest remaining games.

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The game against the Seagulls will come in midweek after Man City have not only focused on their Champions League tie with Real Madrid but also played in an FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea, four days earlier. Brighton’s inconsistent form means that Roberto De Zerbi’s side are a step below the force they were last season but their unpredictability could catch Man City off-guard.

An added layer to the fixture is that both Arsenal and Liverpool will have the chance to knock Man City off top spot this weekend, while Guardiola’s team are in FA Cup action. That pressure took a toll on Arsenal against