Arsenal fixtures compared to Liverpool and Man City as Mikel Arteta eyes 'nasty' title race

Mikel Arteta will be eager to return to winning ways after the international break. Arsenal will lock horns with Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon as both sides look to climb the Premier League table.

The Gunners have won just five points from a possible 15 in the English top-flight since October, with their only victory coming against Southampton at the start of last month. They've dropped to fourth in the English top-flight, falling nine-points behind Liverpool in the title race.

While the North Londoners trail by some distance, Arteta wants his players to 'show their teeth'. Earlier this month, he said: "Win, win and win because these guys, they don’t stop winning, so that’s what we have to do. When it gets nasty, show your teeth and show how much you want it.

"When it’s Disneyland, it’s easy, everyone is next to you and telling you how beautiful you are and when it gets dark and difficult, everyone is questioning it. That’s when I want to see people, that’s when I’m always looking around.

"There is nothing we can change today about that [the league table]. What I am just praying [for] is that after the international break I have the team fully equipped physically, they are available and they are fit because it has been an absolute nightmare for eight weeks."

So, with that being said, football.london has looked at Arsenal's upcoming fixtures before Christmas and how they compare to their title rivals.

Nottingham Forest (H) - Premier League - Saturday, November 23
The Gunners are finally back on home soil after four successive away days – they'll be delighted to return to the Emirates Stadium. Nottingham Forest have enjoyed a great start to the season, climbing above the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United to fifth in the table.

Sporting CP (A) - Champions League - Tuesday, November 26
Unfortunately for the Gunners, they're back on the road. While Sporting might be without Manchester United-bound Ruben Amorim by then, the Portuguese outfit still have Viktor Gyokeres in their armoury - and he's been firing them in once again this season.

West Ham (A) - Premier League - Saturday, November 30
Surprise, surprise... Arsenal have another away day! With so many fixtures in the calendar, Arteta will be expected to heavily rotate his side. The festive period could be the perfect opportunity for the likes of star youngster, Ethan Nwaneri, to establish himself in the starting line-up.

Manchester United (H) - Premier League - Wednesday, December 4
While Arteta and Ruben Amorim have locked horns in the past, knocking Arsenal out of the Europa League back in 2023 as Sporting boss, this will be the first time the duo face one another in the English top-flight. An inevitably cold, wet and windy clash under the lights...

Fulham (A) - Premier League - Sunday, December 8
Before the Gunners return to the European stage, they have a somewhat low-profile London derby. Marco Silva's side are no pushovers and, with no cup ties for the Cottagers, they'll be chomping at the bit.

AS Monaco (H) - Champions League - Wednesday, December 11
Fortunately for Arsenal, this is the first of three successive home games. The festive fixture scheduled takes no prisoners, so the Gunners must be ready for what the French outfit throws at them.

Everton (H) - Premier League - Saturday, December 14
Arsenal have won each of their last three games against Everton at the Emirates Stadium, with their last defeat to the Toffees on home soil coming in April 2021. Back then, Carlo Ancelotti was in charge of the Merseyside outfit and Dani Ceballos was still a Gunner.

Crystal Palace (H) - Carabao Cup - Wednesday, December 18
Arsenal will play Crystal Palace twice in quick succession before Christmas, with the first of which being in the Carabao Cup. Having struggled to get his hands on silverware, Arteta will be determined to go the distance.

Crystal Palace (A) - Premier League - Saturday, December 21
Before the Gunners enjoy their – albeit brief – festive break, they must face the Eagles again. Arsenal currently trail Liverpool and Manchester City in the title race, but could very easily narrow the deficit over the festive period.

Liverpool's upcoming fixtures before Christmas

November 24 vs Southampton (A) at 2pm - Premier League

November 27 vs Real Madrid (H) at 8pm - Champions League

December 1 vs Manchester City ((H) at 4pm - Premier League

December 4 vs Newcastle (A) at 7.30pm - Premier League

December 7 vs Everton (A) at 12.30pm - Premier League

December 10 vs Girona (A) at 5.45pm - Champions League

December 14 vs Fulham (H) at 3pm - Premier League

December 18 vs Southampton (A) at 8pm - Carabao Cup

December 22 vs Tottenham (A) at 4.30pm - Premier League

Manchester City's upcoming fixtures before Christmas

November 23 vs Tottenham (H) at 5.30pm - Premier League

November 26 vs Feyenoord (H) at 8pm - Champions League

December 1 vs Liverpool (A) at 4pm - Premier League

December 4 vs Nott’m Forest (H) at 7.30pm - Premier League

December 7 vs Crystal Palace (A) at 3pm - Premier League

December 11 vs Juventus (A) at 8pm - Champions League

December 15 vs Manchester United (H) at 4.30pm - Premier League

December 21 vs Aston Villa (A) at 12.30pm - Premier League

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