Arsenal and Man City’s final five matches and points won in reverse fixtures | Football | Sport
Erling Haaland of Manchester City and Declan Rice of Arsenal in action (Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Manchester City have nudged ahead in the Premier League title race, albeit narrowly, following their 1-0 win at Burnley. Arsenal and City are now level on 70 points, with identical win-draw-loss records and the same goal difference. City occupy top spot purely on goals scored, 66 to 63, but won’t feature again in the league until May 4 due to their FA Cup semi-final against Southampton.
The Gunners can reclaim pole position by avoiding defeat against Newcastle on Saturday, though they may require all three points to pile the pressure on Pep Guardiola’s side. Arsenal supporters are understandably on edge after watching their once-commanding advantage erode gradually against City. However, previous results against their remaining opponents may offer a ray of hope as the Gunners bid to end their lengthy wait for a league title…
Arsenal
Newcastle (A) – Saturday, April 25
Reverse fixture: The Gunners won 2-1 at St James’ Park thanks to goals from Mikel Merino and Gabriel.
Fulham (H) – Saturday, May 2
Reverse fixture: Leandro Trossard scored the only goal at Craven Cottage.
West Ham (A) – Sunday, May 10
Reverse fixture: The Hammers were beaten 2-0 in October, with Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka finding the net.
Burnley (H) – Sunday, May 17
Reverse fixture: Another win, 2-0, thanks to first-half goals from Viktor Gyokeres and Rice.
Crystal Palace (A) – Sunday, May 24 Reverse fixture: Eberechi Eze scored the only goal against his former club.
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Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola are fighting for the title. (Image: Getty Images)
Manchester City
Everton (A) – Monday, May 4
Reverse fixture: An Erling Haaland brace secured a 2-0 win.
Brentford (H) – Saturday, May 9
Reverse fixture: Haaland was again the difference with the only goal at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Bournemouth (A) – Sunday, May 17
Reverse fixture: A double from Haaland, plus a Nico O’Reilly effort, completed a 3-1 win.
Reverse fixture: Haaland struck twice, either side of a Phil Foden strike, as City eased to a 3-0 win.
Aston Villa (H) – Sunday, May 24
Reverse fixture: Matty Cash scored the only goal as City slipped to a rare defeat.
Were these results to be replicated — unlikely, we acknowledge — Arsenal would be lifting the Premier League trophy, but only following a nerve-shredding final-day showdown. The Gunners won in the reverse fixtures against all five of their remaining opponents, while City won four of their five, tasting defeat only to Villa, who travel to the Etihad on the final day.
