For the first time in months, Arsenal face the grim reality that they may not be top of the Premier League table after this week’s set of fixtures.
A trip to bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur could not be more significant. A victory would keep the Gunners five points clear of Manchester City and pile the pressure on Spurs in their potential relegation battle. A loss, however, could see City lead the pack if they beat Newcastle United.
It is all to play for at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend, as the hosts prepare to welcome new manager Igor Tudor to the helm of what was a sinking ship prior to this game.
Will Mikel Arteta utilise his squad in a game of such magnitude?
Arsenal have had a poor start to 2026. The Gunners have played eight Premier League matches since the turn of the year but have won just three. This has allowed City to close the gap to the North Londoners to just five points, although they also hold a game-in-hand on the leaders.
One reason for this downturn in form could be due to Arteta’s reluctance to use his squad. Players such as Jurrien Timber and Martin Zubimendi have been highlighted as just two who could perhaps be rested more often.
(Credit: David Price/ GettyImages).
The tiredness of Timber was exposed in the second half against Wolves on Wednesday. Arsenal surrendered a 2-0 lead to the league’s bottom side with the Dutchman performing well below his usual level.
Ben White and Christian Norgaard have shown promise in the cup competitions and could potentially play a part in Sunday’s derby encounter.
With Arsenal lauded for their squad depth, the key to competing on all four fronts may be down to squad management.
The players need to step up now
For large parts of the campaign, Arsenal have been able to grind their way to results, even if they have not played well.
However, the recent poor performances have finally caught up to them. Points dropped against Brentford and Wolves in the last ten days have come after sub-par displays from the majority of the squad.
(Credit: Carl Recine/ GettyImages).
The likes of Bukayo Saka, Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze have been singled out for criticism due to their lack of influence in forward areas.
This could be due to Arteta coaching the flair out of their games, or the players are suffering from bad form.
Coming into a North London derby could be what the players need to rediscover the form needed to win a league title.
Eze was one player who went on a good run after scoring a magnificent hat-trick in the reverse fixture. If he could put in a performance of a similar magnitude, that could be just enough to propel Arsenal to a first Premier League trophy in over two decades.