**Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville thinks the busy festive period will have a major bearing on who wins the Premier League title this season.**
The former Manchester United captain still believes Arsenal are “favourites” to finish top of the table, but after closing the gap to two points, Neville says [**Pep Guardiola**](https://mancitynews.com/man-city-news-cesc-fabregas/)‘s men are very much in the hunt:
“Christmas is an important period. There’s loads of points to play for. Massive month, December, with more Premier League games than ordinarily in any other month”
“City should be encouraged, but I still think that Arsenal are favourites – but not as much as I did maybe a week or so ago!”
Who do Man City play between now and the New Year?
--------------------------------------------------
As Neville points out, there are lots of points up for grabs over the next three weeks. The Cityzens take on Crystal Palace in their next league fixture at Selhurst Park next Sunday.
They then host West Ham six days later at the Etihad before travelling to face Nottingham Forest on December 27th. On New Year’s Day, Guardiola’s side play Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Who do Arsenal face over the Christmas period?
----------------------------------------------
The Gunners’ four fixtures are slightly easier by comparison, with three of them being played at the Emirates. They have an almost guaranteed three points next weekend when they host bottom-of-the-table Wolves.
Mikel Arteta’s team will then have an away fixture against Everton, prior to two more home matches versus Brighton and Aston Villa (who beat them in the reverse fixture on Saturday).
If City can keep the gap to just a few points over the course of December, you would think they’d have done pretty well, especially when you compare their respective schedules.
[**Read more about the Man City First Team Squad for 2025/26 here**](https://mancitynews.com/manchester-city-first-team-squad/)