Arsenal secured a 1-0 win over Fulham on Saturday evening to retain the Premier League's top spot - while they may have a golden opportunity to extend the gap to Liverpool in the coming weeks.
Aaron Morris Senior Sports Reporter
06:00, 19 Oct 2025
Mikel Arteta looks on.
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Mikel Arteta has a series of difficult fixtures to navigate.(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
Arsenal supporters may be licking their lips at the prospect of building a healthy lead on Liverpool in the coming weeks, although they face a tough test to do so.
The Gunners are searching for their first Premier League title in more than two decades, with their last top-flight triumph coming in the form of the 2003/04 Invincibles season, under the legendary Arsene Wenger. Mikel Arteta has managed second-place finishes for the north London outfit for the past two years in a row.
However, many fans will hold high hopes that it's a case of 'third time lucky' for the club, especially given their start to the current season. As it stands, Arsenal sit first in the league standings, three points clear of second-place Manchester City and four clear of defending champions, Liverpool - albeit, the Reds could bridge the gap to just one point when they face Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.
It's been a testing time for Arne Slot, given Liverpool head into Sunday's clash on the back of a three-game skid, with losses to Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Chelsea in their last three outings. Arsenal, meanwhile, have only faltered once this term thus far, handed a 1-0 loss to the Reds away from home at the end of August courtesy of Dominik Szoboszlai's dramatic late decider.
And while Arsenal will hope to build on their lead in the coming weeks, the north London outfit has a marginally harder run of games in their next five when compared to their main title rivals;
Arsenal's next five Premier League games
Arsenal jet off to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday as they look to contend in the Champions League, but will face a stoic Crystal Palace when they return to Premier League action next Sunday. Indeed, Oliver Glasner's side have impressed this term, sitting eighth in the standings with three wins, four draws and a single loss for their efforts.
Arsenal secured a 1-0 win over Fulham on Saturday.
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Arsenal secured a 1-0 win over Fulham on Saturday.(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
The Gunners then take on Brighton and Hove Albion come October 29, in the EFL Cup, before facing a struggling Burnley at Turf Moor just three days later. A trip to Slavia Prague in Europe then ensues, before Arteta will prepare for Premier League clashes with Sunderland, Tottenham and Chelsea before November is out.
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace - October 26
Burnley vs Arsenal - November 1
Sunderland vs Arsenal - November 8
Arsenal vs Tottenham - November 23
Chelsea vs Arsenal - November 30
Liverpool's next five Premier League games
Liverpool ultimately face a showdown against Ruben Amorim's Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday, with their following five Premier League games looking far easier on paper. The Reds play host to a 16th-place Brentford come Saturday, October 25, before meeting an off-pace Aston Villa on November 1.
Liverpool have suffered a poor run of form lately.
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Liverpool have suffered a poor run of form lately.(Image: Getty Images)
A tense battle with Pep Guardiola's Manchester City then ensues come November 9, before Liverpool play host to a struggling Nottingham Forest - who parted ways with Ange Postecoglou this weekend - come November 22. The club then travel to the London Stadium to meet West Ham on November 30.
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However, like Arteta, Slot also has a number of Champions League clashes, with the likes of Real Madrid and PSV Eindhoven, as well as a Carabao Cup encounter against Palace to navigate, in the interim.
Brentford vs Liverpool - October 25
Liverpool vs Aston Villa - November 1
Manchester City vs Liverpool - November 9
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest - November 22
West Ham vs Liverpool - November 30
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