:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48390275/GettyImages-485961814.0.jpg)
As pretty much every Arsenal fan knows, Leicester's dream season continued Monday with a 2-1 win over Chelsea, revaulting the Foxes to a two-point lead over Arsenal in the Premier League table. Over the next 16 calendar days, each Premier League team will play four matches, passing the halfway mark of the season in the process -- and it's a period that could do much to shape the race. Arsenal's upcoming Monday match against City is only one of two head-to-head contests in the next four matchweeks involving Top Five teams, but in a race where only three points separate first from third, and with Arsenal enjoying a goal differential advantage over every other Premier League team, even the slightest separation on points could make a difference in the race.
Here's a quick look at the most important matches of the matchweeks as well as how other title rivals* will be preoccupied. (Home teams listed first.)
* For now, we'll call the top five teams in the table the title rivals, which means that we're including our North London neighbors in the mix. Oddsmakers still have Liverpool and even Chelsea (!) ahead of 6th place Palace and sixth-place Watford, so probably best to take a wait-and-see approach with anyone out of the Top Five (though of Palace, 'Pool, and Chelsea, I'd pick Palace to finish highest of the three right now, no matter how much the Reds gegenpress or no matter who Roman hires next.)
Matchweek 17
Most Pivotal Match
Arsenal v. Manchester City (Monday, December 21, noon PT / 3 pm ET): This has been circled on many Arsenal calendars for quite some time, and could come down to whether our returning-from-injury South American offensive threat is better than theirs.
Other Matches Involving the Top Five
Everton v. Leicester, Manchester United v. Norwich City, Southampton v. Tottenham (all Saturday 12/19, 7 am PT / 10 am ET)
Matchweek 18
Most Pivotal Match
Liverpool v. Leicester (Saturday, December 26, 7 am PT / 10 am ET): This is Leicester's second Merseyside trip in a week, and a match with potential to bump Leicester from the top rung. If there's a Top Four narrative in the season for Liverpool, a result from this match will be part of it.
Other Matches Involving the Top Five
Stoke City v. Manchester United (Saturday, December 26, 4:45 am PT / 7:45 pm ET); Manchester City v. Sunderland, Tottenham v. Norwich City (Saturday, December 26, 7 am PT / 10 am ET); Southampton v. Arsenal (Saturday, December 26, 11:45 am PT / 2:45 pm ET)
Matchweek 19
Most Pivotal Match
Leicester v. Manchester City (Tuesday, December 29, 11:45 am PT / 1:45 pm ET): For City, it's a second match against a Top Four opponent inside of nine days, and for Leicester, it's a third straight match against a top-half opponent. We probably root for a tie here, yes?
Other Matches Involving the Top Five
Watford v. Tottenham (Monday, December 28, 7 am PT / 10 am ET); Arsenal v. Bournemouth, Manchester United v. Chelsea (Monday, December 28, 9:30 am PT / 12:30 pm ET)
Matchweek 20
There's Not Really a Most Pivotal Match, So . . .
Arsenal v. Newcastle (Saturday, January 2, 7 am PT / 10 am ET): In a week in which none of the current Top Five teams go head-to-head, there's a potential for Arsenal to win and pump up its goal differential, because quite frankly, the other Top Five teams are playing more competitive teams this matchweek, and yes, I'm counting Swansea in that.
Other Matches Involving the Top Five
Leicester v. Bournemouth, Manchester United v. Swansea (Saturday, January 2, 7 am PT / 10 am ET); Watford v. Manchester City (Saturday, January 2, 9:30 am PT / 12:30 pm ET); Everton v. Tottenham (Sunday, January 3, 8 am PT / 11 am ET)