The Gunners, who currently sit third in the Premier League table, travel to Brentford this coming weekend aiming to back up the 3-1 victory over Burnley before the two-week hiatus. Arsenal have lost just once - a controversial 1-0 defeat at Newcastle - in the top flight so far this season and lie one point behind leaders Manchester City.
But Saturday's trip to Brentford will not be easy. Thomas Frank's men have won three of their last four matches, including beating Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. They also secured victories over West Ham and Burnley in that run, which has propelled them into mid-table after a difficult start.
After the game at the Gtech Community Stadium, Arsenal return to Champions League action when they host Lens. The Gunners are top of their group on nine points from four matches and will qualify for the knockout stages if they avoid defeat against the Ligue 1 side.
A win for Arsenal will also see them confirm top spot and ensure they are seeded for the last 16 draw on Monday, December 18. Once again, it's not an easy fixture for Arteta's side. Just seven weeks ago, the Gunners fell to their first defeat of the season in all competitions when they were beaten 2-1 at Lens.
Arsenal are then back to the bread and butter of the Premier League ahead of an action-packed December, which includes seven top-flight matches. The Gunners entertain Wolves at the Emirates Stadium in their first fixture of the new month.
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal face Brentford after the international break
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal face Brentford after the international break
But if Wolves' recent results against the so-called Big Six are anything to go by, then this is another tricky game in prospect for Arsenal. Gary O'Neil's side secured a 2-1 victory over Tottenham before the international break, and also ended Manchester City's unbeaten league start back in September.
Three successive away matches follow for the Gunners, with a trip to Kenilworth Road against Luton on December 5. Although they have picked up just six points from 12 top-flight matches, the Hatters have been much harder to beat of late, though they are without a win in six.
One of the Gunners' toughest fixtures in December is when they travel to the West Midlands to face Aston Villa. Unai Emery's side are the most in-form team at home in the Premier League, having won their last 13 top-flight games at Villa Park dating back to March. However, Villa's last home defeat came against Arsenal, with the Gunners coming out on top in a 4-2 victory in February.
Arsenal condemned Aston Villa to their last Premier League home defeat back in February
Next comes the final Champions League group game against PSV. If Arsenal do the job versus Lens, the Gunners will not need to worry about the outcome as much, handing Arteta a chance to give others game time and rest some of his more important players ahead of crucial Premier League fixtures.
A welcome five-day break then follows before Arsenal host Brighton in a fixture that the Gunners lost 3-0 last season. Arteta's men will be looking for some kind of revenge against the Seagulls, who all but ended Arsenal's hopes of catching City and winning the Premier League title back then.
Arsenal fixtures for rest of 2023
25/11: Brentford (A)
29/11: Lens (H)
02/12: Wolves (H)
05/12: Luton (A)
09/12: Aston Villa (A)
12/12: PSV (A)
17/12: Brighton (H)
23/12: Liverpool (A)
28/12: West Ham (H)
31/12: Arsenal (H)
Before Christmas, Arsenal head to Anfield to face Liverpool. Although a lot could change between now and then, both sides currently sit second and third in the Premier League table and this feels like a match that may decide who are City's closest title challenges this term.
Ending 2023 with a home game against West Ham and a trip to Fulham, Arsenal will be hoping to grab maximum points from those two matches. The Gunners, however, have already lost to West Ham in the Carabao Cup this season, while Arteta's side drew 2-2 against Fulham in the reverse fixture in August.
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