In the tight Premier League race, Arsenal will have a golden opportunity thanks to a favorable schedule in the upcoming period. After a tough start to the season with constant travel and strong opponents, Mikel Arteta's team can now take advantage of the time to rebuild and gain momentum in the title race.
In the first 11 games of the season, The Gunners have faced opponents who finished in the top 7 of last season, with 5/6 of those matches being away. Notably, in September, Arsenal had a consecutive matchweek with 3 trips to Tottenham, Atalanta and Man City. This not only tested their physical strength but also required quick tactical adaptation.
Before entering FIFA Days in November, the Emirates team also faced 4 away matches in 12 days. The high frequency of matches and away matches have taken a lot of energy from the North London team, significantly affecting their performance and results on the field.
However, things look brighter as the upcoming fixtures will mean Arsenal will have significantly less time to travel. The Gunners will only have to leave London once between now and the end of January, a trip to Brighton. During this time, they will play 14 or 15 games, but the majority of them will be in or around London.
Compared to the start of the season when they had to travel a total of 1,150 km for matches, the upcoming distance will be only about 256 km. Away matches such as against West Ham, Fulham, Crystal Palace and Brentford are all in the city of London, helping Arsenal save time and energy.
This advantage not only helps the players have more time to rest but also maintains better stability during training and preparation. Mikel Arteta once shared that the nights at the hotel before the match are an opportunity for the whole team to focus and prepare mentally. Not having to travel far also helps the team get back into the training routine and recover faster after matches.
Arsenal have been impressive in recent London derbies. Since the start of the 2022-23 season, the Gunners have won 19 of their 28 London derbies in all competitions. Most recently, the Premier League runners-up are unbeaten in seven derbies, winning six and drawing one.
With upcoming games against West Ham and Fulham, Arsenal have the chance to pick up points against opponents who have seen them stumble last season, which will not only help the team consolidate their position in the table but also create a huge momentum in the title race.
While Arsenal benefit from a less-travelled schedule, their direct rivals Liverpool and Man City face a tougher schedule. The Reds will have to travel a total of more than 1,880km for six away games in their next 10 games, including long trips to Newcastle and Girona. Similarly, the Citizens will have to travel around 1,456km for away games at Anfield and the Juventus Arena.
This shows that Arsenal are holding a significant advantage. However, as Mikel Arteta emphasized, careful preparation and fighting spirit are the decisive factors for success. Although a favorable schedule can help reduce pressure, the "Gunners" still need to maintain focus and high performance in each match.
