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Man City handed fresh title advantage over Arsenal as Mikel Arteta's side feel the heat
Manchester City have been given an advantage in the Premier League title-run in against Arsenal.
Manchester City have been handed a fresh boost in their quest to win a fifth Premier League title in six years. A change in the fixture schedule is set to give the reigning champions an advantage over nearest rivals Arsenal.
Arsenal have eight league games remaining this season, while City have nine. City's match away to Brighton is yet to be rearranged after the game, set for April 24, was postponed due to both teams' participation in the FA Cup semi-finals that weekend.
But most of the remaining matches are now set after the latest change from the Premier League on Tuesday. Arsenal's game at home to Chelsea has now been moved to May 2.
It was set to be played on the evening of April 29, before City play Fulham the day after. But now City will play first in that round of fixtures.
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In fact, City will play before Arsenal in four of the seven gameweeks that both teams feature in between now and the end of the season. One of the other three gameweeks will see City welcome Arsenal to the Etihad, so both teams will therefore play at the same time.
The two remaining gameweeks where both teams are set to play are the weekends of May 20 and 21, and the final day of the season on May 28. TV picks for May 20 and 21 have not yet been announced, so it is not yet known who will play first.
The final day of the season will see all teams play at the same time. Therefore, there is currently no gameweek for the rest of the season where Arsenal will play before their rivals.
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Ultimately, both teams have to play 38 games in the season. But those who have won Premier League titles in the past have spoken on the importance of the timing of matches towards the end of a campaign.
City will have the opportunity to put pressure on Arsenal in at least four of the remaining gameweeks where each team is playing. The Gunners won't have that luxury unless TV picks on May 20/21, expected to be announced later this week, are favourable to them.
Arsenal are set to play away at Nottingham Forest that weekend. City will welcome Frank Lampard's Chelsea to the Etihad.
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