Arsenal will enter Christmas atop the Premier League following a 1-0 victory over Everton on Saturday. But once more, the Gunners have been in a position to go away from house to select up factors because of an early penalty put away by striker Viktor Gyokeres. It is solely the second aim within the final 11 appearances for the Swedish striker, as accidents have gotten in the way in which of him integrating into the facet, however even with that, Arsenal’s protection, set play dominance, and well timed scoring have been sufficient to make sure that they’re going to preserve a two-point benefit over Manchester Metropolis.

However, that is additionally a bonus that was as giant as six factors simply over a month in the past. However in a good Premier League race, one loss and two defeats of their final seven matches shall be sufficient for the chasing pack to make this a race going into the vacations. Defensive accidents have helped open the door, however when Arsenal have completed as runners-up within the Premier League in three consecutive seasons, listening to the footsteps behind them is when the strain shall be on within the race for his or her first Premier League title since 2003-04.

At the same time as main the league at Christmas will make it really feel like an ideal place to be in, Mikel Arteta will know that there’s a lot work left to do. In three of the final 5 seasons, Arsenal have entered Christmas main the league, in the end dropping their benefit. Expertise from developing brief is one thing that may sit with a squad that feels that their time is now, however nearly reaching the midway level of the Premier League season, it is a good probability to have a look at the credentials of Arsenal and the small chasing pack.

Arsenal

They management their very own future at this stage of the season, and whereas there’s normally extra strain on the staff main the league at this stage, Arsenal must be used to that strain. Solely permitting 10 targets in Premier League play, the Gunners have been in a position to create extra room for error as a result of stopping their opponents from testing David Raya’s internet. Their 31 targets scored are the second most within the Premier League, however this hardly seems like a dynamic assault as a result of spending important time with out Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Gyokeres this season. 

However because the festive interval takes form, all of these gamers besides Havertz are again within the squad, and so they’ve performed an ideal job in pushing the assault ahead. Arterta has choices to vary a recreation, and whereas the Gunners have had their points away from house, they’ve managed matches sufficient that even conditions that appear like oncoming losses are ones that they will get the most effective of their foes in. All eyes shall be on their fixture with Manchester Metropolis on April 18, however there’s lots that should occur between every now and then.

Manchester Metropolis

Again in November, Metropolis have been seven factors behind the Gunners and struggling to seek out their kind with three losses in 10 matches performed. Quick ahead to now, and so they’ve taken a joint-best 18 factors from their seven matches performed whereas scoring 5 targets greater than anybody else within the league with 21 in that span whereas solely conceding eight. As groups across the league have leaned on set items, Metropolis have taken on a throwback fashion of soccer as a result of the large man Erling Haaland is up there someplace. In 17 matches performed, Haaland has scored 19 of Metropolis’s 41 targets, and after Phil Foden’s seven, no participant has even 5 league targets for Metropolis regardless of their prolific assault. It is primarily a one-man present, however that is okay when the Norwegian is on a special degree than another striker within the league.

Rayan Cherki has discovered his personal kind since becoming a member of from Lyon, racking up six assists, and Jeremy Doku’s dribbling capacity has made the assault onerous to cease. Winners of 5 consecutive Premier League matches, Metropolis have been my decide to win the league forward of the season, and it is onerous to see anybody slowing them down from including a fifth Premier League title prior to now six seasons. They might wrestle, however time and time once more, Pep Guardiola has confirmed that the Premier League title is his, and sometimes different groups get to borrow it.

Aston Villa

Each title race wants an unlikely suspect, and this season, you need to look no additional than Unai Emery’s Aston Villa facet. It took 4 matches for Villa to get their first win of the season, triumphing over Fulham on Sept. 28, and so they’ve solely misplaced as soon as since. Taking out Metropolis and Arsenal throughout that span, Villa have proven that they will grasp with the highest groups within the league, however coming into Sunday six factors again of Arsenal and with a recreation in hand, a lot of their title credentials shall be on if they will defeat Manchester United. United shall be with out Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbuemo as a result of them being on the Africa Cup of Nations, which solely provides to the explanations that Villa ought to hold issues going, however Emery’s males have additionally closely overperformed to this point this season.

They’ve scored 25 targets from an xG of 17.08 and allowed 17 targets from an xG towards of twenty-two.07. If both of these evens out in the course of the season, and a serious hole may open atop the desk. On the brilliant facet, Villa lead fourth-place Chelsea by 4 factors, and that would already be sufficient to safe Champions League soccer subsequent season. Whereas they would not complain with a league title, that may already accomplish the aim for a staff who’re completely satisfied to be right here at this stage in what is actually a two staff race for the league title.

Present Premier League prime half 

As of Dec. 20