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Football London

Sport

Tom Coley

Arsenal's next six fixtures compared to Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester United

Arsenal Mikel Arteta Chelsea Tottenham Gunners EPL Fulham Leicester Bournemouth (Organization) Everton

Although Mikel Arteta will remain entirely focused on the simple notion of 'one game at a time' as he tries to ensure his Arsenal time brings a level of consistency to their game, it is hard to escape from looking ahead in the fixture list.

Having played on Friday, one day earlier than Chelsea and Tottenham, two before Manchester United, the Gunners were able to sit back and enjoy the opening weekend of Premier League football from the top of the table, for just over 20 hours anyway.

Given that the margin for error in England's top division has been massively reduced over the past five years, and the requirements to finish in the top four are getting harder each season. With extra fixtures, reduced preparation time and improved competitiveness throughout the league, Arsenal players would have been excused for watching on in eagerness at their rivals.

The natural contenders for the top four, outside of the expected runaway leaders in Liverpool and Manchester City once more, look to be fierce north London rivals Tottenham, Chelsea and Erik ten Hag's Manchester United.

As the gap between Arsenal in fifth and Spurs in fourth last season was just one point and only five to Chelsea, early season form can have huge implications for the table come the end of the campaign. Arteta might have looked back and seen the three defeats to start the season as the turning point for him or as the reason that they lost out on Champions League football, but with his new signings and a positive feeling heading into this season, more teams than ever are looking over their shoulders.

With that in mind, football.london takes a look at who Arsenal and their rivals have in the next six weeks.

Leicester (H) - August 13

The first game at the Emirates this season, and there is already a juicy narrative building ahead of the game. Midfield target Youri Tielemans, who started Leicester's first game of the season despite interest from Arsenal, has been tipped by fans to be playing that game in Arsenal red.

Although it is unlikely to progress that far there are positives heading into the match. Arsenal have won their last three against their next opponents, and Leicester could be in turmoil as Wesley Fofana and James Maddison continue to be targeted by other Premier League clubs.

The Gunners have also only lost one of their last 30 home matches vs the Foxes.

Bournemouth (A) - August 20

The next test for Arteta is his first managerial trip to the Vitality stadium to face newcomers Bournemouth.

It continues a gentle introduction to the season as Arsenal look to get off to a much better start than last season, though they have only won three of the six trips to Bournemouth. Most recently, the sides met in the 2020 FA Cup as Arsenal went on their way to winning the tournament.

The last Premier League meeting was a 1-1 draw in December 2019, and this will also be Arteta's first meeting with Scott Parker.

Fulham (H) - August 27

The Gunners then host another of the league's new boys, welcoming London rivals Fulham to the Emirates.

Taking on Parker's former team, Arteta is given more room to experiment, though, on the face of the Cottagers' performance against Liverpool, there is plenty to be wary of. However, history will be on Arsenal's side. They have never lost at home to Fulham, even going back to the days on Woolwich Arsenal. In the time since their first meeting in February 1904, Arsenal have won 24 games, though they have drawn three of the last five meetings at home between the sides.

Aston Villa (H) - August 31

Next up is a back-to-back home match, this time to face another former England midfielder, Steven Gerrard this time.

In a battle between players that goes back into the late 2000s, Arteta and Gerrard will meet for just the second time. In the first match played last season, Arteta came out on top with a 1-0 win away from home.

Arsenal should be wary of an old enemy in this game, though, Emi Martinez will be there to stop Jesus from scoring, and Villa have won three of the last five meetings, including two of the last three at Villa Park. At the Emirates, Arsenal have won four of the last six.

Man United (A) - September 4

An early season crunch match for Arteta as he takes his side to Old Trafford for the next iteration of a fixture with more than 125 years worth of history.

The Gunners have lost 100 meetings against United in that time, but recent history has the game on a much more even keel. Arsenal have won four of the last seven against one of their oldest rivals but only one of eight away from home.

This will be the first coming together for ten Hag and Arteta, but the Spaniard has a good record against Manchester United to take into the game, winning three of his first five games vs the Red Devils with one draw.

This game will be the biggest indicator of how far the Gunners have come and could have big implications for how the season progresses. Arteta's side already has a buffer on their rivals after Brighton were 2-1 victors at Old Trafford on the opening day.

Everton (H) - September 11

To finish off, the opening seven games for Arsenal is one of the club's lesser-liked opponents. Everton.

With three defeats in four and four in the last seven, Frank Lampard's side hasn't been a happy team for Arsenal to come up against in recent years. Although there was a crushing win last time out, Arteta's side putting five past the hapless Toffees, the Spanish manager has only won two of his three matches against Everton in charge, though both wins have come at home.

Chelsea's next six fixtures:

Tottenham (H) - August 14

Leeds (A) - August 21

Leicester (H) - August 27

Southampton (A) - August 30

West Ham (H) - September 4

Fulham (A) - September 10

Tottenham's next six fixtures:

Chelsea (A) - August 14

Wolves (H) - August 20

Nottingham Forest (A) - August 28

West Ham (A) - August 31