A brutal October and another tough run-in? Arsenal's fixtures assessed

Mikel Arteta

Arsenal's fixtures assessed: A brutal October and another tough run-in? 

Alec McQuarrie

The new season starts now. 
With the Premier League fixtures released on Thursday, fans can start envisioning tricky away days in the depths of winter, nerve-wracking North London derby weekends, and the balmy afternoons in the April/May run-in. 
So where is the season going to be won and lost? What are the dates not to book holidays for? What’s the easiest run of games on paper? 

Hardest month: October 

Not only is October Arsenal’s hardest month theoretically, it’s also the month with the most matches. 
With three Europa League group stage matches interwoven with six league matches, the Gunners face the prospect of nine games in just 29 days. 
And if playing Thursday-Sunday week-in-week-out wasn’t bad enough, Spurs’ visit to the Emirates is the first cab off the rank after the September international break. 
Two Europa League commitments sandwich hosting Liverpool, before an away trip to Elland Road to face Leeds. 
It’s then Pep Guardiola’s turn to travel to North London, to complete an 18-day period in which the Gunners play six matches and three of last year’s top four. 
The end of the month is mercifully easier, although a trip to hard-working Southampton and a home tie against an energised Nottingham Forest are never a guaranteed six points. 

Easiest month: March 

Just as the Premier League title race is, hopefully, starting to hot up, Arsenal have a breezy set of fixtures that kicks off with a home fixture against newly-promoted Bournemouth. 
If Arsenal have progressed through the Europa League group stages as expected, two last-16 legs will bookend a short away trip across the capital to Championship winners Fulham. 
Crystal Palace visit the Emirates for the final club game of the month, with the final international break of the season taking up the remaining fortnight. 
An FA Cup quarter-final could potentially usurp the Palace fixture if Arteta’s men are part of the last eight remaining teams in the competition. 

Gabriel Martinelli

The run-in: May 

After a potentially season-defining week at the end of April in which Arsenal travel to the Etihad and welcome Chelsea for a London derby, the last month of the season could be a lot worse for the Gunners. 
It begins with a trip north to take on a new-look Newcastle, who could potentially be fighting for European places by that stage. 
Then a home tie with Brighton, who more than likely will be on the beach, precedes an away match to the City Ground for a clash with Premier League new boys Nottingham Forest. 
And the final game of the season sees Arsenal host Wolves at the Emirates, a final day on which home advantage could play a big role. 

Christmas Lowdown 

With the World Cup slapped bang in the middle of the English league season from November 21 – December 18, only three fixtures fall at the end of advent. 
A League Cup Round 4 match is scheduled for the Tuesday or Wednesday before Christmas, and on Boxing Day a tasty London derby with West Ham at home beckons. 
New Year’s Eve sees the Gunners travel down the M23 to the south coast for a battle with Brighton. 
And finally, 2023 kicks off with the visit of Newcastle United to the capital, provisionally scheduled for January 2. 

Photo credit: Getty Images

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