They have only one league match in March but should they continue to have a 13-point lead they would win the title with four games to spare, at home to Tottenham on April 26, although if they were to win their next three and Arsenal lost four in a row that would be brought forward to the first week of April.
Most observers agree the race is over as even if the Gunners win all their remaining games, one of which is Anfield’s penultimate league match in May, Arne Slot’s side would have to lose three and draw at least one of their final 10 fixtures for the situation to be reversed.
When they last won the title in 2020 they were 22 points clear of Manchester City, who had a match in hand, at this stage and would have set a new record for the earliest securing of the trophy had Covid not interrupted the season for three months.
“The message (before Newcastle) was we had to show what we are all about because after a very good win against Man City to drop points or have a bad performance (would mean) the performance against City doesn’t stand for anything.”.
A 2-0 win over Newcastle, coupled with Arsenal’s draw at Nottingham Forest, opened up a 13-point lead at the top and Opta now rate their chances of winning a first Premier League in five years at 98.7 per cent.
