Arsenal’s PL title hopes ended by Amorim’s Man Utd after Lopetegui sacking? Pre-Christmas game difficulty ranking

Arsenal need to be perfect before Christmas to stay in the title race, so which opponent is most likely to end their hopes of winning the Premier League?

Nine points behind table toppers Liverpool and four away from Manchester City, Arsenal really need to get to grips with their ideas if they are to mount a sustained challenge for the Premier League title this season.

Mikel Arteta’s failing side have already shown signs of mental fatigue after succumbing to Man City in two grueling title races. Now their sub-par start to the 2024/25 campaign has left no room for error in the coming weeks.

It is too early for panic stations and talk about head coach Mikel Arteta is too early as Arsenal almost remain in the Premier League title. But they need to get serious quickly.

Liverpool could easily drop points in a few upcoming games as their set-up of fixtures is particularly cringe-inducingbut Arne Slot’s side looks the right one and is unlikely to give Arsenal much of a helping hand.

As for Man City, yes they are inevitable and the big news regarding Pep Guardiola’s contract would presumably have caused their title rivals to take a rather large gulp.

While Arsenal want one player to fix everything, a solution to a missing Rodri is on City’s Christmas wish list as they have looked fragile without the Ballon d’Or winner. Still, you know Guardiola will somehow find a way to make sure his side make it.

Arsenal need to do the same as it feels like they are one poor result away from seeing their title hopes end. So which of their six upcoming opponents before Christmas could put the final nail in their coffin? From least to most likely, here are our rankings of their next six Premier League foes…

6.) West Ham (A) – 30 November
As underwhelming a start to the 2024/25 season as it has been for Arsenal, at least they are not West Ham.

The ‘winners’ of the summer transfer window made some strong signings on paperbut the appointment of Julen Lopetegui to replace veteran David Moyes did not fill supporters with optimism, as the pragmatic Spaniard is very similar to his predecessor.

In attack in particular, West Ham have plenty of quality and should challenge for the European places, but they are currently languishing well below where they could be in 14th place.

West Ham’s players have clearly not taken to Lopetegui, and they were embarrassingly toothless in defeats to Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest.

Their record against the better sides suggests Arsenal shouldn’t have much trouble against their London rivals, that could show Lopetegui – who has reportedly been given two games to save his job – the door before everyone has started their advent calendars.

READ: Pep Guardiola at Man City: A damning indictment of the inferiority of each of the Big Six

5.) Everton (H) – 14 December
Another dismal afternoon for West Ham came in their final game before the international break as they were involved in a dismal goalless draw against Everton.

Sean Dyche’s side would have been far happier with this result than West Ham as the plucky Toffees remain three points above the relegation zone.

Everton’s squad isn’t brimming with quality, but the tenacity Dyche has instilled should be enough to ease them over the Premier League safety line once again, albeit with a few humbling results along the way.

Such a result could come at the Emirates next month, although this could prove a nail-biter if Arteta’s world-class striker-less side are still not firing in front of goal when this game rolls around.

4.) Crystal Palace (A) – 21 December
Oliver Glasner’s Palace have been one of this season’s biggest disappointments, but they should gradually move away from the relegation picture as their quality comes to the fore.

Without Michael Olise, the Eagles are far from the side that took the Premier League by storm in the run-up and the test to face them is not at the level it once was.

The unfortunate Dr. Tottenham helped Palace to their first Premier League win of the season before the break, but their demoralizing 2-0 home loss to Fulham dampened expectations.

Spurs made Palace’s win easier than it needed to be, but a trip to Selhurst Park remains one of the toughest the Premier League has to offer. Arsenal would rightly be happy to escape with a narrow win, although they would rather have this game played now than a few months ago.

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3.) Nottingham Forest (H) – 23 November
Skov has been a breath of fresh air this season and we are happy for Nuno Espirito Santo, who has enjoyed an unexpected managerial renaissance.

It’s always great when a team that nobody expected to challenge for Europe suddenly breaks out of the pack and creates a scene. Nuno would be a shoo-in for manager of the season if Forest are still fifth in the Premier League when the season ends, but they should hit the ground running in the coming weeks and settle in the top half.

This would still make for a fantastic season and Forest – even after their 3-1 loss to Newcastle before the break – will be keen to compound Arsenal’s misery this weekend.

Arsenal will be happy to be at home as their form away from home is much more worrying, but they would have preferred a number of other Premier League rivals as alternative opponents for their first game back.

READ: Arda Guler to Arsenal? Every Premier League club repeats their best signing

2.) Fulham (A) – 8 December
Arsenal supporters may already be breaking out in a cold sweat before Emile Smith Rowe inevitably scored the winner in his first game against his boyhood club.

Unsurprisingly, the 24-year-old has shone while affording the much-needed limelight and has been one of the signings of the season for Fulham, who continue to develop under Marco Silva.

The Cottagers have gone about their business without much fanfare, but the seventh side can be anyone’s match and this is especially the case at Craven Cottage.

Arsenal took just one point from their two games against Fulham last season. Their 2-1 loss at Craven Cottage on New Year’s Eve was a dagger in their title hopes and history could easily repeat itself early next month.

1.) Manchester United (H) – December 4
Ruben Amorim has yet to play his first game as Man Utd’s head coach but we’re already giddy about this deal.

As you might expect, all the right noises are coming out of Man Utd after Amorim’s arrival and he has the natural charisma that previous boss Erik ten Hag lacked to that extent.

Not only that, he also happens to be an excellent coach and his players should be used to his system when they visit the Emirates in a few weeks.

Amorim is already above Arteta in our Premier League manager rankings for 2024/25 and the Arsenal boss will be wary of a potential surge at Man Utd as his side could be caught cold by their arch-rivals in a massive test for either side.