Mikel Arteta vs Pep Guardiola: How Arsenal and Manchester City Fixtures Compare As Title Race Heats Up

• Manchester City seemingly have the most favourable fixtures than Arsenal as the season enters its homestretch
• Arsenal has, however, conjured up shocking victories as they seek to end their Premier League drought
• Arsenal's away games at Liverpool and Manchester City will have a huge impact on the title race

Not many people put Arsenal in the title race conversation when the season began in August. The onus was on the usual suspects Manchester City and Liverpool and perhaps a strong-looking Chelsea to battle it out for top honours once again.

But game after game, Mikel Arteta showed why trusting the process is a thing. With nearly three-quarters of the season done, they are no longer title contenders but title favourites.

Not even a serious knee injury to Gabriel Jesus derailed their momentum. They have dug deep a couple of times this season. Their recent last gasp win over Bournemouth coming to mind. Plus, the signing of Leandro Trossard in January has proved to be a masterstroke.

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The Gunners will be feeling confident about clinching the Premier League title for the first time since 2004. But behind them are an Erling Haaland-powered Manchester City hunting them down. With only 11 games remaining and five points separating them, we take a look at how their fixtures compare and which games look easy or winnable on paper.

Arsenal

Perhaps it would be fair to assume that the pressure will be on the North London side more than the Citizens, who have won four titles in the last five seasons.

Arteta still has to play Liverpool and Manchester City themselves away in what could be the turning points of their campaign. Losses at Anfield and at the Etihad could spell doom to their ambitions, especially if Guardiola keeps winning.

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Aside from that, they will have to play relegation-threatened candidates like West Ham, Southampton and Wolves.

Manchester City

Football is often not a straight line, and it can spring up surprises when you least expect them. However, Guardiola will be feeling buoyant with the idea that he will play Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea at home.

City have already completed their fixtures against their bogey team Crystal Place but will still come up against a couple of unpredictable teams like Brighton and Fulham.

These run-ins will happen at the same time as their European ambitions. City would give anything to win the Champions League, but if they fail to do so, the Premier League won't be a bad consolation prize either.

Arsenal's cryptic photo

After their recent win against Fulham, Sports Brief reported that the Arsenal team and backroom staff took a photo in the dressing room after the win, where two staff and Trossard held a giant clock with the time shown being five minutes to two o'clock, as shared on Instagram by Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Fans believe the photo is a cryptic message. They have theorised the time on the clock signifies '11 games two go' until the season ends and they are champions, while another theory states it must be interpreted as '11 games two months to go'.