Arsenal v Man City title race: level on 21 points — fixtures, injuries and form compared to Christmas
City's defeat at Villa Park and Arsenal's win over Everton have put the champions level with Enzo Maresca's side after eight games. We compare their fixtures to Christmas, their injury lists and the numbers behind their starts.
After eight games the Premier League has a two-horse race. Manchester City and Arsenal both have 21 points, and no one else is close to them yet. Here is how the two sides compare.
The table at the top
| Manchester City | Arsenal | |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 21 | 21 |
| Record | W7 L1 | W7 L1 |
| Last result | Lost 2-1 at Aston Villa | Beat Everton 2-0 |
| Coach | Enzo Maresca | Mikel Arteta |
Read the reports: Villa 2-1 City and Arsenal 2-0 Everton.
Fixtures to Christmas
| Date | Manchester City | Arsenal |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Oct / 1 Nov | Brighton (h) | Liverpool (a) |
| 7 Nov | Nottingham Forest (a) | Hull (h) |
| 21 Nov | Fulham (h) | Newcastle (a) |
| 28/29 Nov | Arsenal (a) | Man City (h) |
| 2 Dec | Leeds (h) | Brentford (a) |
| 5 Dec | Brentford (a) | Tottenham (a) |
| 12 Dec | Chelsea (h) | Bournemouth (h) |
| 19 Dec | Hull (h) | Manchester United (h) |
| 26 Dec | Newcastle (a) | Crystal Palace (a) |
| 30 Dec | Everton (a) | Fulham (a) |
Dates from the original fixture list; some games, including Liverpool v Arsenal (now Sunday 1 November) and Arsenal v City (Sunday 29 November), have been moved for TV.
The verdict on fixtures: Arsenal's next month looks harder, with trips to Anfield, St James' Park, Brentford and Tottenham, all before Christmas. City's November is kinder — Brighton, Forest and Fulham — before the head-to-head at the Emirates.
Injuries
Arsenal
- Bukayo Saka (quad) will be out for "weeks", according to Arteta, with reports suggesting up to eight. See how long Saka will be out.
- William Saliba (back) has not played this season but is working towards a return later this autumn.
- Christos Tzolis (hamstring) is out for a few weeks.
Manchester City
- Antoine Semenyo (knee) is out for around eight weeks.
On injuries, City are in the better position. But Arsenal's defence has coped without Saliba, and Piero Hincapié is back.
The numbers behind the starts
- City's attack: Erling Haaland has nine league goals, the most in the division.
- City's weakness: they have conceded in transition all season, and errors are adding up — Gianluigi Donnarumma has made three errors leading to goals since joining.
- Arsenal's home form: seven straight league wins at the Emirates. On Saturday they also scored their first set-piece goal since May.
- Arsenal's attack without Saka: Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze and 16-year-old Max Dowman will have to carry more of the load.
What to watch next
The weekend of 31 October–1 November could change things again: City host a Brighton side that has scored 23 goals in seven games, while Arsenal go to Anfield. Then, on 29 November, the two meet at the Emirates.
See the Premier League table and the Golden Boot race.
FAQ
Who is top of the Premier League? Manchester City and Arsenal are level on 21 points after eight games.
When do Arsenal play Man City? At the Emirates Stadium on Sunday 29 November 2026 (moved from Saturday 28 November for TV).
Who has the easier fixtures? On paper, City's November is easier. Arsenal face Liverpool, Newcastle, Brentford and Tottenham away before Christmas.
