Arsenal’s quest for the first Premier League title in 22 years is entering a critical phase, with two significant London derbies poised to shape the narrative of their 2025/26 campaign. Fixtures against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on February 22 and Chelsea on March 1 are widely anticipated to represent a defining period for Mikel Arteta’s side.
The burning question on every neutral lip and likely every Gunner, isn’t merely if these fixtures will ‘shape Arsenal’s most hopeful campaign, but whether the Gunners can finally conquer their familiar demons, or if they’re simply gearing up to pen another tragically compelling chapter in the epic saga of the real league bottlers.
Under Arteta’s stewardship, Arsenal have finished runners-up in the Premier League for the past two consecutive seasons. The 2022/23 campaign saw them finish five points adrift of Manchester City, while the 2023/24 season concluded with a two-point deficit to Pep Guardiola’s side. Last season, 2024/25, saw Liverpool, managed by Arne Slot in his inaugural season, secure the title with a ten-point advantage over Arsenal. This sequence of near misses has, inevitably, led to scrutiny regarding the club’s capacity to sustain a title challenge over a full season.
This season, significant investment and strategic appointments were made at Emirates Stadium. The arrival of acclaimed football director Andrea Berta, who oversaw eight new signings totaling in excess of £250 million ($333.5m), was understood to be a clear signal of intent, designed to bolster squad depth and address previous injury concerns. Arsenal subsequently capitalised on early-season instability among their traditional rivals.
Liverpool’s title defence was hindered by a combination of factors, including the demise of striker Diogo Jota, a heated disagreement between head coach Arne Slot and forward Mohamed Salah, and significant squad adjustments following player sales. Manchester City, navigating an ongoing Premier League legal challenge regarding alleged financial breaches from 2009-2018, experienced a period of inconsistent form and tactical experimentation under Guardiola. Manchester United, for their part, underwent a change in management earlier in the season, with Rubén Amorim’s tenure concluding amidst scrutiny over squad selection and tactical approaches. Chelsea, recent winners of the Club World Cup, and Newcastle also faced periods of struggle, with the former having parted ways with head coach Enzo Maresca, and the latter contending with a notable injury list. Tottenham Hotspur, under new head coach Thomas Frank, found themselves unexpectedly contending at the lower end of the table despite a strong UEFA Champions League showing.
Arsenal’s campaign had, until recently, progressed favourably. They secured qualification from their UEFA Champions League group unbeaten, topping it with 18 points. In the Premier League, the club has incurred only three defeats this season – against Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Manchester United – and had maintained a position at the summit of the table, benefiting from City’s occasional dropped points against mid-table opposition.
However, since January 2026, Arsenal’s league form has seen a dip, registering just three wins from their last eight Premier League encounters. This run has allowed Manchester City to close the gap, with Arsenal currently holding a five-point advantage, albeit with City possessing a crucial game in hand against Newcastle United at home. A recent 2-2 draw at home to relegation-threatened Wolves, where Arsenal surrendered a two-goal lead, reflects the current challenge.
The immediate focus for Arsenal now shifts to the aforementioned London derbies. There is an understanding that securing maximum points from these fixtures is paramount, particularly with Manchester City’s own challenging schedule, which includes matches against Newcastle and Leeds. While City have already faced Newcastle three times this season – once in the league (a defeat) and twice in the Carabao Cup semi-finals (both victories, setting up a final clash with Arsenal) – an upcoming FA Cup fifth-round tie against Newcastle also looms. Leeds, currently battling against relegation and one point above Tottenham, are also expected to offer formidable opposition, despite narrowly losing their reverse Premier League fixture against City 3-2.
Historically, City have demonstrated a formidable capacity to accelerate their performance in the latter stages of a title race, a factor that will undoubtedly exert pressure on Arsenal. Both Tottenham and Chelsea, despite their current league positions, will approach their encounters with Arsenal with significant motivation. Tottenham, who recently sacked head coach Thomas Frank, will be keen to make an impression, while Chelsea, who have not secured a victory against Arsenal in their last ten meetings, are understood to be vying for a top four position, competing with a resurgent Manchester United.
Looking further ahead, Arsenal is scheduled to face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final following the Chelsea fixture. This will be succeeded by a critical league visit to the Etihad Stadium, a match widely anticipated to be a pivotal moment in the Premier League title race. There is also the potential for the two clubs to meet in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages. Consequently, any dropped points in the upcoming London derbies could significantly alter Arsenal’s standing ahead of these crucial encounters.
Dropping points to Spurs and Chelsea is thus suicidal for Arsenal. Catch the action live at the Guinness Matchday on March 1st at Bar Next Door Kiambu Road and Konqa 254 Lounge in Ruaka. The experience will feature live screening of the games including Arsenal vs Chelsea on HD screens, with perfect sound, expert punditry and ice-cold Guinness.