Arsenal are six points off the pace at the top of the Premier League table, and they've played a game more than current leaders Liverpool too.
The Gunners have failed to capitalise on the Reds' dropping four points in their last two Premier League matches, with Mikel Arteta's side doing exactly the same thing.
That means that if Arne Slot's side win their game in hand they would be nine points clear of the Gunners. That game in hand is the Merseyside Derby away at Everton, however, and we do not know as yet when it will be slotted into the fixture schedule.
Arsenal have the opportunity to close the gap to Liverpool to three points this weekend, if only for a day, as they take on Crystal Palace away on Saturday. Liverpool head to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to take on Spurs on Sunday afternoon.
Beat Tottenham and the Reds will be top of the pile at Christmas, although anything other than a win would open the door for Chelsea to top the table on Christmas Day, with Enzo Maresca's Blues just two points behind the Reds and on the same goal difference.
Liverpool being top of the table at Christmas is not a foregone conclusion, though, as history tells us. And that offers Arsenal a major boost in their hopes of lifting the crown for the first time in 21 years.
Liverpool have been top of the table on six occasions on Christmas Day in the Premier League era, but have only gone on to lift the trophy on one of those occasions.
The Reds topped the pile in 1996, 2008, 2013, 2018, 2019 and in 2020, with that 2020 season - the Covid-19 hit campaign - being the only one where they would go on to win the title.
No other side has been top as frequently as the Reds on Christmas Day, and not gone on to win the Premier League. Only half of the teams who have been top at Christmas have actually gone on to lift the trophy.
There is still plenty of time and hope left for the Gunners in the title race.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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