Only Manchester City have beaten Arsenal at Emirates Stadium in the Premier League this season, thanks to late goals from Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka after the visitors led 3-1 with two minutes of normal time remaining.
City are now five points behind Mikel Arteta’s side, but they have two games in hand. They play the Gunners on Wednesday knowing that if they win all of their remaining games, they would retain the title – but Arsenal can say the same.
However, Arsenal’s new title-race uncertainty was not lost on the players or the manager after a game in which they had to scrabble for a point against the bottom team.
Friday’s result followed 2-2 draws with West Ham and Liverpool, with Arsenal surrendering a two-goal lead in both games.
City has a better goal difference than Arsenal (50 to 43) and has won 10 of their last 11 games in all competitions, scoring 38 and conceding only five.
Arsenal have not beaten City in the league since 2015
While Arsenal has six league games left, City is still in contention for the FA Cup and the Champions League, and could have a crowded schedule until the end of the season, with as many as 13 games.
Arsenal have dropped six points in their last three games, making Wednesday’s encounter almost a must-win.
Only three teams in history have been eight points or more clear at the top after 28 games, as Arsenal was on 7 April, and failed to win the title.
The meeting at Etihad Stadium will be the fourth time in Premier League history that the top two have met with five points or less between them in the leader’s final six games of the season.
On five of the previous eight times, the team that won the game went on to win the championship.
It’s set up ideally for a thriller, with City’s hunters pursuing injured prey.