Arsenal handed fresh Premier League title race incentive with Manchester City fixture decision
Arsenal’s elimination from the FA Cup in the early stages of the competition could work to their advantage in the Premier League title race later this month.
In the fourth-round tie against Manchester City, Arsenal lost 1-0 after fielding a slightly weaker team, and ultimately paid the price.
Nathan Ake’s goal was the difference between the two sides. As a result, Manchester City progressed to face Bristol City on Tuesday, and they comfortably won the game 3-0 thanks to goals from Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne.
Due to their progression in the FA Cup, Manchester City will play two fewer Premier League games than Arsenal this month. This is because their game against West Ham United, which was originally scheduled for March 19 (the final round of fixtures before the international break), must be rescheduled to accommodate the FA Cup tie.
Ahead of the quarter-final draw, a statement via Man City’s official website read: “The matches will be played over the weekend of 18/19 March 2023 with our exact kick-off date and time to be confirmed in due course. Our Premier League encounter with West Ham United, currently scheduled for 16:30 (UK) on Sunday 19 March, will be moved. The full details of that change will follow once confirmed.”
As West Ham will be playing in the UEFA Europa Conference League over the next two midweeks, their game against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium will likely be rescheduled for April. The impact of this rescheduling on the Premier League title race is uncertain.
Some may argue that Arsenal’s early exit from the FA Cup is an advantage, particularly now that Manchester City is among the final eight teams in the competition. Considering their involvement in the Champions League as well, Guardiola’s team may end up playing more fixtures than their Premier League rivals between now and the end of the season.
The change in the Manchester City vs West Ham fixture gives Arsenal an added motivation ahead of their upcoming four Premier League games against Everton, Bournemouth, Fulham, and Crystal Palace. If Arsenal manages to win all four games, they could head into the international break with an eight-point lead over Manchester City, assuming they also beat Newcastle United at home and win at Selhurst Park.
In the best-case scenario, Arsenal would win all four games while Manchester City would drop points, which would widen the gap even further. Manchester City’s game against Liverpool after the international break could also play a significant role in the title race.
Arsenal handed fresh Premier League title race incentive with Manchester City fixture decision
