Back to back 0-0 draws in the Premier league for the first time since 2012/2013 for Arsenal sees them extend their lead over Manchester City and Aston Villa to seven points. Speaking after the game, Mikel Arteta said that “Obviously we came here to win the game and we haven't managed to do that for different reasons. Credit to them, because they are really well organised and they are really good at breaking momentum when you have certain dominance in the game. But the reality is that we created four massive chances as well with Martinelli an open goal, Declan Rice a tap-in, Mikel and the header of Bukayo, and on top of that obviously a very clear penalty in the box that is not given. So, without conceding a single shot on target, again, the fact that we haven't won the game is disappointing.” The frustrations felt by the Arsenal manager are echoed by the fans who seen their side create enough chances but just couldn't convert. Arsenal winger, Noni Madueke said after the game that “It’s disappointing to draw for sure,”. “We wanted to win the game, we didn't achieve that. Disappointing in that sense, but it's a point we take on the road and we regroup".
That draw stretches Arsenal's unbeaten run to 11 matches now in all competitions with seven of those coming in the top flight and despite the feeling that points were dropped in the two scoreless draws, the Gunners are in a healthy position as they enter the business end of the season.
It ends all square at The City Ground. pic.twitter.com/iTxcQW2a1j
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 17, 2026
Momentum
With the multitude of games played since December 13th covering a busy Christmas and New Year period, Arsenal have kept the momentum going and are very much involved with all four trophies available. Aside from the stalemates against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in the league it was as we recap now, a winning run for the Gunners.
In their early December home league fixture against Wolves, a late Yerson Mosquera own goal in the 94th minute bagged all three points for the Gunners and considering that this was a game where top faced bottom with a gap of 31 points between them, Arsenal had a day off in attacking terms. Wolves threatened to derail the title challenge with a 89th minute Tolu Arokodare goal cancelling out the Sam Johnstone own goal in the 69th minute but another own goal from Mosquera deep into stoppage time saved the day. The following Saturday saw Arsenal travel to Everton for their first visit to the Hill Dickinson stadium where a Gykores penalty on 26 minutes proved to be the winning goal and one which kept the Gunners on top for Christmas day. Three days later on the 23rd December, Arsenal entertained Crystal Palace in the Carabao cup quarter finals. After a one sided first half where the Gunners should have scored, it was Maxence Lacroix's own goal in the 79th minute that looked like it was going to be enough to send Arsenal through in normal time. More drama ensued though when new Manchester City signing Marc Guehi scored deep into injury-time to force a penalty shootout with the Gunners finally prevailing in a dramatic 8-7 win. Kepa Arrizabalaga was the hero of the hour, saving Maxence Lacroix’s penalty to send Mikel Arteta's men through to the semi-final of the Carabao Cup.
A 2-1 home win against Brighton on Saturday the 27th maintained the winning run with goals from captain, Martin Odergaard (13) and an own goal from Georgino Rutter (51) proving to be enough to claim all three points with Brighton's response coming from Diego Gomez on 64 minutes. Next up for the Gunners was the visit of high flying Aston Villa who came into the fixture on a club record 11 match winning run and with plenty to play for especially as Villa had ended Arsenal's own unbeaten run less than a month before. It was an emphatic display from Arsenal, scoring four fantastic goals in a mesmerising second half. Goals from Gabriel, Zubimendi, Trossard and Gabriel Jesus ending Villa's run with Ollie Watkins getting a late consolation for the visitors in injury time.
The first game of 2026 came on January 3rd when Arsenal traveled to the Viatality stadium to take on free scoring Bournemouth. Goals from Gabriel and a brace from Declan Rice seen Arsenal win by the odd goal in a five goal thriller. Evanilson and Kroupi Jnr getting on the scoresheet for the home side.
Liverpool
Five days elapsed before the visit of Liverpool to the Emirates stadium and this much anticipated encounter didn't live up to expectations when it ended in a disapointing 0-0 draw. Arsenal had the better of the play in the first half but failed to replicate this in the second half when Liverpool had more of the ball and in another game could have done more with it. After City and Villa had drawn earlier, it was a case of as you where following this gameweek. A break from the Premier league on Sunday 11th January saw Arsenal play Portsmouth in the F.A cup and after an early goal from Colby Bishop in the 2nd minute, Arsenal wrestled control of the tie, running out 4-1 winners. An own goal from Andre Dozzell (7) and a scintillating hat-trick from Gabriel Martinelli (24,50,71) sealing the win.
Carabao Cup
The next game in Arsenal's marathon run of fixtures came in a deserved 3-2 win over London rivals Chelsea on Wednesday night (14th January) in the semi-final of the Carabao cup. Arsenal took the lead when Ben White (6) opened the scoring after an inswinging corner from Declan Rice wasn't dealt with by the Chelsea defence and they doubled their lead shortly after the restart when Gyokeres (48) pounced on a Sanchez parry to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. New Chelsea manager, Liam Rosenior brought on Garnacho and Badiashile to try boost the attack and it paid off when Garnacho turned in a Neto pass (57) to halve the defecit. Arsenal restored their two goal advantage on 70 minutes when Zubimendi curled a wonderful goal into the Chelsea net after good work from Gykores. Garnacho got his and Chelsea's second on 83 minutes but they couldn't grab an equaliser. Arsenal have home advantage and a one goal lead to take into the second leg on Tuesday February 3rd.
Up next
This Tuesday sees the Gunners travel to Italy to face Inter Milan at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in the Champions League round of 7 matches. Arsenal sit on top of the Champions league table with 6 wins from 6 and boast a goal difference of 17 scored and only one goal conceded. Inter are in sixth position having won 4 from their 6 matches to date and this will be a test of how far Arsenal have come this season facing a side that are currently unbeaten at home in Serie A.
Manchester Utd
The games come thick and fast at this time of the season and Sunday's home fixture is the league meeting against Manchester United. United's recently departed manager Ruben Amorim, has been replaced by Michael Carrick who takes the hot seat as intern manager until the end of season. In his first game in charge on Saturday he got off to a dream start with his side defeating Manchester City 2-0 in the Manchester derby. However, with a seven point lead at the top of the table and the fact that Arsenal having a strong home advantage over Utd in the Premier league in recent years (Arsenal have won 8 from their 10 meetings at the Emirates since the 2015/2016 season) Arteta will be hopefull that they can add to that record after the fixtures have concluded on week 23.
