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When are Arsenal’s key Premier League matches as they look to juggle domestic action with the Europa League?
With a new season on the horizon, and the fixtures for the 17/18 Premier League confirmed, not a great deal has changed at Arsenal. Arsene Wenger remains at the club, despite spending a year refusing to confirm his intentions, and has declined the opportunity to work alongside a director of football – as reported by the .
The biggest change at the Emirates has been the loss of Champions League football, with Wenger having finally failed to qualify for Europe’s elite competition, for the first time in his 21 year tenure. The Gunners only narrowly missed out and the fifth place finish has qualified them for the Europa League’s unfavourable Thursday night football. That means a minimum of six midweek matches, five of which will be followed by Premier League away trips.
Arsenal open their league campaign with the visit of 15/16 champions Leicester City, who they are undefeated against in six recent meetings. Following that, comes two tricky away fixtures at Stoke City and Liverpool. Last season The Gunners dismantled The Potters 4-1 on the road and drew 3-3 at Anfield.
Journeys to Chelsea and Everton fall on the 16th September and 21st October respectively, although both will almost certainly be played on Sunday (or Monday night) as they come after Europa League matches. No doubt Arsenal will be disappointed that such big away games have fallen so close to Thursday night commitments.
The next notable fixtures come in November, as Arsenal visit Manchester City and host the season’s first North-London derby either side of an international break. That trip to the Etihad will likely be just three days after a European game, which could be anywhere on the continent – adding further doubt to the chances of The Gunners avenging last season’s 2-1 defeat.
December’s early matches include Manchester United’s arrival at the Emirates, continuing the Jose Mourinho/Arsene Wenger feud, and a difficult trip to St Mary’s – where Arsenal lost twice in 2015. That game is also close to one of the Europa League group fixtures and makes up part of a hectic 30 days.
Between December 2nd and New Years Day, Arsenal have at least nine matches, eight in the league and one in Europe. Domestically, those fixtures include Liverpool and Chelsea at home, as well as Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion away. In the same games last term, The Gunners beat Chelsea but lost the other three; the festive period may well be pivotal in their season.
February will see just three league matches, however. Arsenal’s trio is made up of Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City and there will be a further European trip in between them – if Arsenal progress from the group stage.
Following that, for the period in which Arsenal are usually most consistent and successful, is a favourable run of games. From March until the final day in May, Wenger’s men face just two of last season’s top 10, and all three of the newly promoted sides – albeit away from home.
At the moment it is difficult to see Arsenal seriously challenging for the title. Yet, if situations regarding player contracts and transfers are resolved – and The Gunners fare reasonably well in the first half of the season – then they will be well placed for those last 10 matches.
That scenario will certainly depend on how the side copes with the Europa League and the tough fixture arrangement it has helped create.