Arsenal and Manchester City, the two title rivals competing for multiple trophies, could face each other as many as five times within a single month in an extreme scenario.
After Manchester City’s dramatic 2-1 away victory over Liverpool on Sunday night, Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League table is down to just 6 points. Mikel Arteta’s side is locked in a tight title race with City, and he knows he will face his former mentor Pep Guardiola at least twice more this season.
First, Arsenal will take on Manchester City in the EFL Cup final on March 22, with the first major trophy of the season at stake.
They will then travel to the Etihad Stadium on April 18 for a crucial showdown that could prove decisive in the title race.
But the two sides could meet even earlier, as the FA Cup fifth round is scheduled for the weekend of March 7 or 8. Both clubs remain in the competition: Arsenal host Wigan in the fourth round, while City visit Salford City away.
The FA Cup quarter-finals will take place on April 4 or 5, the semi-finals on April 25 or 26, and the final is set for May 16.
The two teams could also clash in the UEFA Champions League, having both qualified automatically for the round of 16. They will not meet in the next round, but could face each other in the two-legged quarter-finals on April 7/8 and April 14/15.
Of course, if both sides keep progressing in their cup runs, they might not meet until the FA Cup or Champions League finals.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has even commented on the possibility of facing the Gunners multiple times before the end of the season.
Speaking this week, he said: “It’s possible. I don’t know what will happen in the Champions League, and in the Premier League, the fixtures are already set.”
“When top teams reach the latter stages of competitions, you might end up in this situation. I love it, especially when it comes to finals.”
