Arsenal could face Liverpool twice in the space of four days in the first week of May in a defining period for Mikel Arteta. The two teams are on a collision course in the Champions League draw and will also battle it out in the Premier League title race.
Currently slated to be the third-last domestic game of Arsenal’s campaign, at least one visit to Anfield awaits. There will be another if both teams progress to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
After learning their fate on Friday morning, the Premier League’s top two can now cautiously start planning ahead. Already, the road to Munich is clear.
There is first going to be a serious test for Liverpool to get that far. They face Paris Saint-Germain in a brutal last-16 draw and will need to overcome the French champions first if they are to get through to April’s quarter-finals. Arne Slot’s men would then take on the winner of Club Brugge and Aston Villa for a spot in the last four.
Arsenal’s initial route is more favourable. But a round-of-16 tie with PSV Eindhoven next month would be followed by one of Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid as their potential quarter-final opponents.
If Arsenal and Liverpool make their way through the newly structured Champions League then they will play three times in the space of just 12 days. First in a semi-final at the Emirates Stadium, then at Anfield in the return leg, before the Premier League fixture to round it all off.
With Liverpool’s treble currently still on the cards – although they will have already played Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final by the time Arsenal face them next so will know just what the lay of the land is at that stage – and Arteta pining for an unlikely double, there is much at stake.
The sides drew 2-2 in north London earlier this season in a hotly contested match. The gap at the top is now eight points, though, even with Arsenal holding a game in hand.
On paper, Arsenal also have the easier run of games. Their next six before the international break promises to be crucial in an attempt to get to within five points of Liverpool, securing a quarter-final place at the same time.
After the internationals there is a kinder run but that could be complicated with matches against one of the Madrid sides. Arsenal do also have a nice-looking set of games before the semi-finals but as soon as they are upon Arteta it ramps up with Bournemouth, Liverpool, and Newcastle in the final three weeks of the season.
The prospect of taking on Slot’s side on multiple fronts is far from ideal, and is one to watch to see how it all unfolds.
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