Arsenal can already map out the rest of their season. With 13 Premier League matches left and a pathway to the Champions League final now clear, the race to the finish is very much here.
It is a three-month stretch for Arsenal with plenty at stake – not least because Liverpool have left the door open in the title race after recent results. Mikel Arteta will need every part of his squad to play a key role between now and the end of May if a trophy is to be brought home, though.
His side have been plagued by problems throughout the campaign. Three players are already ruled out for the rest of the season after Takehiro Tomiyasu joined Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus in needing surgery, limiting Arteta’s options.
Fortunately, the head coach has been able to promote Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly confidently into starting players. The pair will both head into next month’s Champions League last-16 matches as likely starters – almost undroppable figures, such has their impact been.
For Arsenal, seven weeks on from their last match in Europe, they can begin to plot the next steps once more. The extended group phase ending in January has left them watching on over the past fortnight as sides outside of the top eight battled it out to remain in the competition.
In the process, a handful of their rivals have been sent packing with Manchester City and Juventus both knocked out. Atalanta were shocked by Club Brugge, whilst even those who remain are not quite in top nick.
